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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Members of heavy metal band Decapitated arrested for suspected kidnapping in Spokane

Polish death metal band “Decapitated” (Courtesy of band website)

All four members of the Polish death metal band Decapitated were arrested early Saturday in Santa Ana, California, on suspicion of kidnapping a woman after their Aug. 31 concert in Spokane.

A woman reported to police just before 2 a.m. on Sept. 1 the alleged kidnapping by the band members, said Spokane Police Department spokeswoman Cpl. Teresa Fuller. The band had performed with Thy Art is Murder at The Pin concert venue downtown as part of their “Double Homicide” tour. Fuller said she believes the woman attended the heavy metal concert.

The band members were arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office after their Friday night concert in Santa Ana. They have been identified as 27-year-old Michal M. Lysejko, 35-year-old Waclaw J. Kieltyka, 31-year-old Rafal T. Piotrowski and 30-year-old Hubert E. Wiecek. All are Polish nationals.

The four are in the Los Angeles County Jail awaiting extradition to Spokane. Fuller said additional charges are possible. The case is still under investigation by the department’s Special Victims Unit.

Defense attorney Steve Graham of Spokane said he was hired by the band on Thursday after they became aware of the investigation.

“There is another side to this,” he said. “We have witnesses that can testify to the fact that the accuser came to visit the band of her own free will and left on good terms.”

He said he told police that the band members had offered to surrender but never heard anything back.

“I made it clear that I could get the guys up here ASAP and they would cooperate,” he said.

Graham said he’s concerned that they will “languish” in the Los Angeles County Jail for weeks before being returned to Spokane, but he said the four will not fight extradition and will return to Spokane willingly.