Concerns Raised Over Delays in Treatment for Sexual Impulses in Rönninge Murder Suspect

Vilma Andersson, a 26-year-old man suspected of murdering and dismembering a 25-year-old woman in Rönninge, sought medical help for sexual deviations including pedophilia but experienced significant delays and irregular treatment provision, exposing systemic shortcomings. Andersson had a prior conviction for attempting to kidnap a ten-year-old girl and was assessed as having pedophilia with a high risk of reoffending.

According to reports, Andersson reached out to Anova, the specialized treatment center affiliated with Karolinska University Hospital that addresses pedophilia and unwanted sexual impulses, while in prison. However, it took over a year—approximately a year and a half—before he had his first treatment meeting. The delay meant that by the time treatment started, Andersson was already out under supervised release. Following his release, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service (Kriminalvården) pointed out that the treatment sessions were not conducted regularly.

Josephine Savard, a senior physician at Anova, explained that since the treatment is voluntary, once an individual’s supervision period concludes and motivation diminishes, there are practical limits to sustaining care. This has raised concerns about the management of individuals with serious sexual impulse disorders within prison and probation frameworks.

The case exposes challenges in timely access and continuity of care for offenders with sexual impulse disorders such as pedophilia, which is critical for reducing risk of recidivism. The suspect’s history and the delay in adequate treatment spotlight systemic issues in providing consistent therapeutic intervention that could potentially prevent further serious crimes.

As the investigation into the Rönninge murder and Andersson’s background unfolds, these revelations have triggered calls for evaluation of existing protocols and treatment availability to better manage high-risk individuals in the Swedish criminal justice system.