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Death of Danka Ilić

ONGOING2024Banjsko Polje, near Bor, Republic of Serbia3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On 26 March 2024, 22-month-old Danka Ilić disappeared while walking with her mother, Ivana, in Banjsko Polje near Bor, Republic of Serbia. Around 1:45 p.m. local time, Ivana lost track of her daughter. Authorities alleged that Danka was struck by a car at 1:52 p.m. and was still alive at that point, and that one of two later-identified suspects then killed her. The two men allegedly transported her body to a landfill and moved it again on 28 March. Serbia issued the country's first-ever Amber Alert in response to her disappearance.

Initial searches in the area produced no leads. Interpol became involved and issued a yellow notice in the case by 1 April. Investigators considered the possibility that Danka had been taken out of the country, and Viennese police examined a video purportedly showing her, but concluded it had no connection to the case.

On the morning of 4 April, police found blood on a utility vehicle and arrested two 50-year-old men, Dejan Dragijević and Srđan Janković, in connection with Danka's disappearance and death. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that the two had confessed to killing her. Police said the suspects would lead investigators to where the body had been left, but despite being taken to various locations under police supervision, the body was not found. On 5 April, the suspects were brought before the state attorney in Zaječar; Dragijević reportedly confessed to strangling Danka and said his father and brother had helped hide the body, while Janković invoked his right to remain silent. Both men were ordered detained for 30 days on charges of aggravated murder, punishable by life imprisonment; their detention was extended by another 30 days on 30 April. On 4 June, Janković, at his own request, was interrogated again and denied committing any crime, and Dragijević did the same on 11 July.

On 6 April, Dragijević's father, 73-year-old Rade, and brother, 40-year-old Dalibor, were arrested on suspicion of helping dispose of the body and ordered detained for 48 hours. Rade was brought before the state attorney on 7 April, invoked his right to silence, was ordered detained for 30 days, and was released on 29 May. Local police initially reported that Dalibor Dragijević died of natural causes at a police station in Bor at 3:10 a.m. on 7 April. However, Serbian media reported on 19 April that an autopsy revealed violent causes of death, contradicting the police account; it was later established that he had been beaten to death, with evidence of torture. On 1 May, an internal police inspection recommended disciplinary action and suspension for three officers in connection with his death.

On 8 May, it was reported that no DNA belonging to Danka had been found on any part of the car alleged to have hit her. On 15 May, Dragijević's mother died of natural causes. The veracity of the suspects' initial reported confessions has been disputed in subsequent months due to a lack of corroborating evidence, limited transparency, and strong evidence of police torture. As of the available reporting, Danka Ilić's body has not been found.

Key facts

Victims
Danka Ilić, Dalibor Dragijević
Date
2024
Location
Banjsko Polje, near Bor, Republic of Serbia
Case status
ongoing

Case timeline

  1. 2022-05-06

    Danka Ilić is born.

  2. 2024-03-26

    Danka Ilić disappears while walking with her mother in Banjsko Polje near Bor, Serbia; authorities later say she was struck by a car and then killed.

  3. 2024-03-28

    Suspects allegedly move Danka's body from an initial location.

  4. 2024-04-01

    Interpol issues a yellow notice in the case.

  5. 2024-04-04

    Police arrest two suspects, Dejan Dragijević and Srđan Janković, who reportedly confess to killing Danka.

  6. 2024-04-05

    Suspects brought before state attorney in Zaječar; Dragijević reportedly confesses to strangling Danka and says his father and brother helped hide the body; both ordered held for 30 days on aggravated murder charges.

  7. 2024-04-06

    Dragijević's father Rade and brother Dalibor are arrested on suspicion of helping dispose of the body.

  8. 2024-04-07

    Police report Dalibor Dragijević died of natural causes in custody in Bor; Rade is ordered detained for 30 days after invoking his right to silence.

  9. 2024-04-19

    Serbian media report that an autopsy found Dalibor Dragijević died of violent causes, contradicting the initial police account.

  10. 2024-04-30

    High Court in Zaječar extends detention of Dragijević and Janković by another 30 days.

  11. 2024-05-01

    Internal police inspection recommends disciplinary action and suspension for three officers over Dalibor Dragijević's death.

  12. 2024-05-08

    Investigators report no DNA belonging to Danka was found on the car alleged to have hit her.

  13. 2024-05-15

    Dragijević's mother dies of natural causes.

  14. 2024-05-29

    Rade Dragijević is released from detention.

  15. 2024-06-04

    Srđan Janković, interrogated again at his own request, denies committing any crime.

  16. 2024-07-11

    Dejan Dragijević, interrogated again at his own request, denies committing any crime.

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People

  • Danka Ilić

    VICTIM

    22-month-old girl who disappeared and was reportedly killed near Bor, Serbia; her body has not been found.

  • Rade Dragijević

    CHARGED

    Father of suspect Dejan Dragijević, arrested on suspicion of helping dispose of the body, detained 30 days, and released on 29 May 2024.

  • Dejan Dragijević

    CHARGED

    Charged with aggravated murder in connection with Danka Ilić's death; reportedly confessed to strangling her, later denied any crime upon further interrogation.

  • Dalibor Dragijević

    VICTIM

    Brother of suspect Dejan Dragijević, arrested on suspicion of helping dispose of the body; died in police custody in Bor with autopsy later revealing signs of torture.

  • Srđan Janković

    CHARGED

    Charged with aggravated murder in connection with Danka Ilić's death; initially invoked right to silence, later denied any crime upon further interrogation.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Banjsko Polje, near Bor, Republic of Serbia

44.0778, 22.0979

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
A 22-month-old girl disappeared during a walk with her mother near Bor, Serbia, in March 2024; two men were later arrested and reportedly confessed to killing her, but her body has never been found, and the brother of one suspect died in police custody with signs of torture.
Where did the crime happen?
Banjsko Polje, near Bor, Republic of Serbia.
What is the current status of the case?
Status: ongoing.
More cases in Serbia

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICDeath of Danka IlićWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSVucic: Two Persons Admitted They Killed Two-Years-Old Dankasarajevotimes.com · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSSkandal u Srbiji: čovjeka bez optužnice mučili i pretukli do smrtijutarnji.hr · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 10, 2026