In addition to releasing details surrounding the case of a 23-year-old woman being murdered in the street, reports have also unveiled chilling information about the killer and his criminal past.

Tragedy has struck the northern part of Bucharest as a reality star’s life was brutally taken recently. She was 26 weeks pregnant and only 23 at the time of her demise. According to reports, which have been translated from Romanian to English, her death in the Cosmopolis complex was captured on surveillance cameras.

Footage later reviewed by authorities revealed the attack unfolded in a matter of moments but left behind a scene of chaos and devastation. The victim, Teodora Marcu, visibly pregnant and walking hand-in-hand with her three-year-old daughter, was making her way through the residential area when she was approached by a man dressed in black.

Surveillance footage captured the assailant — later identified as 49-year-old Robert Lupu — pulling a pistol from a bag that resembled a laptop case.

“He had a laptop bag, which wouldn’t draw attention, so this was clearly premeditated,” remarked investigative journalist Sorin Ovidiu Bălan. Without hesitation, Lupu shot Marcu in the chest at close range. As she collapsed to the ground, he fired two more rounds, one of which struck her in the abdomen.

Nearby residents watched in horror as the young woman lay motionless on the pavement. The incident occurred in broad daylight, with several children reportedly within view of the shooting.

As panicked onlookers attempted to administer first aid, the attacker walked away, leaving behind a trail of trauma and unanswered questions.

An emergency call was placed at approximately 7:09 p.m. on May 31, 2025, prompting officers from the Voluntari Police Department and a medical response team to rush to the scene. Marcu was transported to Floreasca Hospital, where doctors fought desperately to save her and her unborn child.

Despite their efforts, she succumbed to her injuries. “He fired three bullets: two in vital areas […] So it’s clear he intended to kill her,” Bălan stated. “I’ve already spoken to a psychologist, who told me he wanted to destroy her fertility,” he added, contextualizing the stomach wound.

In the hours following the attack, a chilling portrait of the shooter began to emerge. Lupu had a long criminal history and was known by the alias “Wolf.”

He had previously served time for theft and pimping and was reportedly under investigation in several other cases at the time of Marcu’s murder. Shortly after the shooting, Lupu was spotted on surveillance cameras fleeing the scene.

Footage showed him darting down a side street before disappearing behind a white van. He remained there for over two hours as authorities closed in. Surrounded and with no way out, Lupu ultimately chose to end his own life before he could be apprehended.

Further investigation revealed that Lupu was in possession of two firearms, neither of which he had a legal permit for. According to police and local media, in addition to walking with her daughter, Marcu was also with her cousin and her cousin’s children.

The Ilfov County Police is currently conducting a thorough investigation to determine the full extent of the case and appropriate legal actions to take. The attack shattered the calm of the suburban setting, turning an ordinary day into a scene of irreparable loss.

In the wake of Marcu’s death, the Cosmopolis community has mourned deeply. Dozens of candles were lit at the site where Marcu fell. Among those devastated by the tragedy is a well-known manele (Romanian singer), part of Romania’s Romani pop music scene.

As the investigation deepens, a far more harrowing narrative has emerged — one that reveals Marcu had been living in fear long before her final moments.

While the public saw a radiant, smiling young woman on television, her reality behind the scenes was one of chronic torment.

According to a former castmate from “Temptation Island,” the show Marcu once starred in, the deceased and her partner were the targets of ongoing harassment and threats from Lupu, who was Marcu’s ex-boyfriend.

The castmate, who spoke anonymously to Actualitate.net, claimed the young couple had been living under the weight of intimidation for years, and despite raising alarm bells with authorities, no action was taken to protect them.

“They had been living in fear for a long time,” the source recalled. “Teodora had been with this guy, Alex — her husband — since she was around 17. That’s what she told us when we were all on the island.” But Marcu’s tragic connection to her killer dated back even further.

Before her recent partner, she had been in a relationship with Lupu as a teenager — at the time, she was just 15 or 16, while he was already an adult deeply entrenched in criminal activity. “He was some kind of thug, a pimp or something like that, I don’t remember exactly,” the source added.

After Marcu ended the relationship, Lupu refused to let her go. He stalked her relentlessly and issued threats.

Perhaps the most chilling of those threats came shortly after Marcu discovered she was pregnant — a moment that occurred during the filming of “Temptation Island.”

Upon learning the news, Lupu allegedly issued a terrifying promise, one that saw him threaten to harm her belly with a knife. The gravity of that threat stunned those around her, yet, according to witnesses, it was not an isolated incident.

Marcu and her partner filed multiple complaints with local police, reporting harassment, intimidation, and possible acts of violence at the hands of Lupu. But their pleas for protection were ignored.

“He knew everything — where they lived, where Teodora went, what she did. He followed her every step. And going to the police was pointless… because in the end, he still killed her. Both of them were terrorized by Robert,” another former contestant recounted.

The same witness also described a time when Lupu appeared outside the couple’s apartment with a knife, threatening to kill them both, with Marcu as the primary target.

Marcu and her partner had put their relationship to the test on national television. When she joined the cast of “Temptation Island,” the late reality star was just 19, and she had been with her partner for two years.

At this time, we wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to Marcu’s partner, her daughter, family, friends, loved ones, and all who knew her, as they mourn such a significant loss. We hope for their healing amid their time of grief. RIP, dear Marcu.