Former “Top Model” contestant Paulina Lerch, 33, and her husband Sławomir (the ‘ł” is from the Polish alphabet and pronounced similar to English “w”), 47, were found dead in their luxury home near Poznan City, Poland on Sunday, September 1, 2024. Police suspect a murder-suicide scenario after discovering the couple’s bodies and a revolver inside their locked residence.
Authorities were alerted to the situation when Lerch’s family reported they couldn’t contact her for over a week. Upon entering the property, police found the bodies of both Lerch and her husband in the kitchen.
Lerch, who appeared twice on Poland’s “Top Model” version in 2010 and 2018, had kept her marriage to Sławomir primarily out of the public eye. Known as “Klakson,” Sławomir had a troubled history with the law. He was an alleged drug trafficker and was arrested in April and May this year after 60kg of drugs were found stashed in a warehouse. He had been released from custody at the beginning of August, just weeks before this incident.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear. Investigators are awaiting autopsy results to determine the exact time and nature of the shootings. It is currently unknown whether Paulina’s death was a murder or part of a suicide pact between the couple.
Lerch’s journey in the entertainment industry had been marked by perseverance and disappointment. During her first appearance on Top Model in 2010, she faced a controversial moment when asked to imitate a dolphin on the catwalk, which sparked outrage among viewers.
Despite this setback, Lerch returned to the show in 2018, having undergone a significant physical transformation. This time, she appeared changed, as she managed to lose nearly 44 lbs. over eight years. However, her second attempt at the competition also ended in disappointment when the judges did not allow her to advance to the next stage.
The discovery of the couple’s bodies has sent shockwaves through the Polish entertainment community and reignited discussions about the pressures faced by reality TV stars after their time in the spotlight.
As the investigation continues, authorities are piecing together the events leading up to the tragic discovery. The locked house and the presence of the revolver near the bodies have led police to suspect that Sławomir may have shot Lerch before turning the gun on himself.
