Murder: True Crime Stories - SOLVED: The Acid Doctor Murder 2

Episode Date: July 8, 2025

Geza de Kaplany tortured his wife and confessed to murder. But when the trial began, his story took a shocking turn. In Part 2, we uncover the courtroom chaos, his bizarre multiple personality defense, and the decades-long mystery of what really happened after “The Acid Doctor” walked free. Murder: True Crime Stories is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Murder: True Crime Stories! Instagram: @murdertruecrimepod | @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi there, it's Vanessa Richardson. Crime House is your go-to destination for the most gripping true crime shows. On my show Killer Minds, join me and forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels for two new episodes as we dive into the twisted story of the Dr. Death serial killer, Michael Swango. Craving more deep dives into the minds of the world's most dangerous killers? on this is crime house This is Crime House. One of the world's greatest mysteries is the human brain. While we've come a long way in understanding how it functions, there's still so much we

don't know. This was especially true decades ago in the 1960s. Back then, experts were just beginning to understand why certain people were more prone to mental health issues, and they were only starting to get a handle on the many kinds of psychological disorders that existed as a result. Which made it the perfect loophole for someone looking to escape accountability. Someone like Gheza DiCapolani. In 1962, he was arrested at the scene of a horrendous crime, identified as the perpetrator and confessed to murder. And yet, he claimed he wasn't responsible for his actions.

What followed was a sensational trial that would test the boundaries of the insanity defense, and leave the public wondering, was justice really served. People's lives are like a story. There's a beginning, a middle, and an end. But you don't always know which part you're on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon, and we don't always get to know the real ending. I'm Carter Roy, and this is Murder True Crime Stories, a Crime House original powered by

PAVE Studios that comes out every Tuesday. At Crime House, we want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible. Please support us by rating, reviewing, and following Murder True Crime Stories wherever you get your podcasts. And to enhance your Murder True Crime Stories listening experience, subscribe to Crime House Plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get ad-free listening, early access to every two-part series, and exciting bonus content. A warning, this story contains descriptions of physical abuse, extreme violence, and murder. Listener discretion is advised. This is the second of two episodes on the murder of 25-year-old Hoina Piller. In 1962, the Hungarian immigrant was brutally killed by her husband just five weeks into

their marriage. Last time, I told you about Hoina's childhood and her journey from Hungary to California. I explained the struggles her family faced in America, and how Hoina's new husband, Dr. Geza DiCaplani, seemed to be the answer to their troubles. Today, I'll tell you how Hoina's life was cut tragically short by the same person who'd sworn to love and protect her. I'll detail the shocking trial that followed and the scandalous secrets that emerged along the way. All that and more coming up. venues like Budweiser Stage and the new Roger Stadium with Go Transit. Thanks to Go Transit's special online e-ticket fairs, a $10 one-day weekend pass offers unlimited travel on any weekend day or holiday, anywhere along the Go network.

And the weekday group passes offer the same weekday travel flexibility across the network, starting at $30 for two people and up to $60 for a group of five. Buy your online Go Pass ahead of the show at Gotransit.com slash tickets. What's better than a well-marbled ribeye sizzling on the barbecue? A well-marbled ribeye sizzling on the barbecue that was carefully selected by an Instacart shopper

and delivered to your door. A well-marbled ribeye you ordered without even leaving the kiddie pool. Whatever groceries your summer calls for, Instacart has you covered. Download the Instacart app and enjoy zero dollar delivery fees on your first three orders. Service fees, exclusions, and terms apply. Instacart, groceries that over-deliver. On the evening of August 28, 1962, 25-year-old Hoina Piller, now Hoina Decaplani, returned to her apartment in San Jose, California. She had spent the day visiting her mother, Ilona, in San Francisco and running a few

personal errands. Her new husband, Dr. Geza Decaplani, was waiting for her when she arrived around 7 pm. Despite how hot and muggy it was that day, Geza had all the windows shut tight. As soon as Hoina stepped through the front door, she felt suffocated by the stale, warm air. But she didn't say anything to Geza. She knew how easy it was to upset him, especially recently.

So instead she made herself a sandwich, then hopped in the shower to cool off. She emerged feeling refreshed and energized. Hoina was ready to spend some time with her husband. At the sight of her, Geza seemed receptive. They kissed and moved to the bed. But a moment later, Geza stood up. He looked at Hojna and said he knew the truth. He knew about her lover.

Hojna was confused. She tried to tell him he was mistaken, but Geza didn't want to hear it. Instead of trying to have a conversation, he slapped her again and again. Hoina was too stunned to react. She watched as Geza went over to his briefcase, reached inside, and grabbed some electrical wire and tape. Then he walked over to Hoina and tied up her hands and feet. Then he taped her mouth shut.

It's not clear if Hoina tried to fight back, or if she was simply too shocked to do anything, but by that point she was lying on the bed, still naked, terrified, and completely defenseless. When he turned to face her again, Hoina saw he was holding a large knife. Panic coursed through her, but Geza was eerily calm. He held up a note written in their native language Hungarian. It said, If you want to live, one, do not shout. Two, do what I tell you. Three, or else you will die. As if to show her he was serious, Geza cut Hoina across the chest. Then he went back to his bag. This time, he returned with rubber gloves, cotton swabs, medical gauze, and three

bottles of acid. Bottles of Acid A Warning This next detail is pretty disturbing if you want to skip ahead 30 seconds. With gloved hands, Geza carefully opened one of the bottles and held it above Hoina's beautiful face. She screamed behind the tape, but her cries were muffled. Seconds later, Geza poured the acid over her. When he was finished, he left Hoina wailing on the bedroom floor. Then he called the San Jose police and said his wife was hurt. Officers arrived just after 10pm.

Geza answered the door and pointed them toward the bedroom. They walked in and saw Hoina writhing on the floor in agony. Even the air smelled horrible from the acid fumes and burning flesh. As officers rushed to Hoina's aid, Geza sat in the living room and watched. She begged the police to untie her, but Hoina was so drenched in acid, even touching her was dangerous. When paramedics eventually arrived, they were finally able to free her. Hoina was loaded onto a gurney and rushed to the nearest hospital.

She was admitted with third-degree chemical burns over 60% of her body, including her face and genitals. The prognosis wasn't good, and yet Hojna still managed to give a statement to the police who'd accompanied her. She explained how methodical Geza had been, how calm and prepared he was, and how little he seemed to care about the pain he was causing her. Back at the apartment in San Jose, Geza's behavior only confirmed Hoina's statement. He was officially taken into custody, but before the authorities took him down to the station, he insisted on changing

out of his shorts and house slippers. Geza, now wearing a suit and tie, was escorted through the building's courtyard and to a waiting police car. Neighbors who'd gathered to watch reported that he looked like he was going to a dinner party, not an interrogation room. Under questioning, Geza never once denied what he'd done. He admitted to pouring acid on Hoina, but he said he wasn't trying to kill her. According to Geza, he just wanted to scare her and to take away the beauty that she'd used to ruin his life. Geza explained how he'd learned Hoina was having an affair. He went on and on about how miserable he'd been and how much anguish the situation

had caused him. He practically waved off concerns about Hoina's injuries, calling them superficial. Even when he was formally charged with attempted murder, Geza was sure that Hoina would survive. The doctors treating her weren't as confident. Hoina was in critical condition, and her chances of survival were very low. Around 1.30 a.m. a few hours after she was admitted, Hoina was intubated and put on a ventilator. Her mother, Ilona, sat beside her. Her grief was palpable. Just two years before, Ilona had watched her husband wither away from cancer.

Now she faced the reality of losing her only child in the grisliest way imaginable. She'd thought Geza was the answer to their prayers, but he was nothing more than the devil in disguise. Alona couldn't understand how he could do something so horrible, and she wasn't the only one looking for answers. By August 30th, two days after the attack, news of the attack reached journalists around the Bay Area. The crime made for sensational headlines, and so did Hoina's time as a showgirl. Soon, pictures of Hoina wearing feathers, jewels, and little else were printed on the front

page of nearly every paper. But for all the provocative reporting, the story did manage to do some good. Before long, letters of well-wishes and support came pouring in to Alona, and with them, thousands of dollars in donations to help cover the costs of Hoina's treatment. She was being worked on around the clock by a team of nine specialists. Even in the face of impossible odds, they hoped to restore Hoina's vision, which had been impaired, and prepare for future reconstructive procedures. While Hoina was in the hospital fighting for her life, Geza was in county jail.

The next time he was seen in public was 13 days after the attack on September 10th, when he appeared before a grand jury. There he was indicted on charges of intent to commit murder, assault with acid, and assault with a deadly weapon, among other crimes. By then, newspapers were publishing almost daily updates about Hoynus's condition, and things were looking worse by the day. Still, when questioned, Geza refused to admit that his wife might die. But it didn't matter what he said. On September 30th, after 33 days of agony, 25-year-old Joyna Piller passed away from

her injuries. Three days later, Old St. Mary's Church in San Francisco held a mass in her honor. Because of all the press, 400 people showed up to mourn a woman they'd never met. That same day, 50 miles south, another grand jury held a special session to add a charge against Dr. Gaza DiCapilani. First degree murder. Prime Day is here. With great kitchen deals, greatness is a deal away. So if you love baking, you can get a deal on a new mixer,

transforming you into the Lord of the Loaves. Hear ye, hear ye, make way for the barren of Priosh, the salty enough sourdough, the Lord of the Loaves, Prime Member Dave! Yeah, uh, hi? Shop great Prime Day deals now. On August 28th, 1962, 36-year-old Geza DiCapilani attacked his wife, 25-year-old Hoina, with nitric acid. After calling the police on himself, Geza was arrested and later indicted for attempted murder. The whole time he was in custody, Geza insisted Hoina's injuries were minor. He was sure she'd make a full recovery, but on September 30th she sadly passed away, which meant Geza was now being charged with first-degree murder. After several delays, Gaze's trial began a few months later on January 14, 1963.

His lawyer was a man named E.F. De Vilbis. Together, they agreed that he would plead not guilty by reason of insanity, but proving that would be difficult. At the time, the state of California required two things to show criminal insanity. First, the defendant needed to prove they couldn't tell right from wrong at the time of the crime, and second, that they didn't understand the nature of their actions. Unfortunately for Geza and his lawyer, the state already had him evaluated psychologically. That doctor found no evidence of anything other than depression, which didn't qualify

under the legal or medical definitions of insanity. The odds were not in Geza's favor. He knew that if he was found guilty, the best he could hope for was life in prison. At worst, he faced the death penalty. As the trial got underway, Geza sat nearly motionless as his lawyer called witnesses to the stand, co-workers and friends who'd known him and Hoina. They all said Geza was a reserved person who rarely got upset or angry. When the first responders testified, they said the same thing.

They recalled how detached Geza had been the night of the attack. Even when paramedics described Hoina's injuries in detail, Geza didn't flinch. But on the seventh day of the trial, his demeanor changed. The assistant district attorney was questioning the doctor who treated Hoina that evening. During the proceedings, the assistant DA showed the court photos of Hoina in the hospital. The moment the first picture was brought out, Geza lost it. He jumped out of his chair and lunged for the photo. He shouted, what did you do to her?

Almost like he'd forgotten he was the one who'd done it. It took multiple court officers to restrain him, dragging him out of the chamber until he calmed down. After 30 minutes they brought him back in. He spent the rest of the day sitting at the defense table, crying. When court adjourned, he was taken to an observation cell in case he tried to harm himself. It had only been a week, but Geza's trial was already off to a dramatic start, and it only continued when his lawyer announced that his client was changing his plea to guilty. The move completely changed the purpose of the trial.

Geza was still pleading insanity, but now the jury was no longer deciding if Geza had killed Hojna. They were deciding if he was insane or not when he did it, and their answer would determine how harsh his sentence would be. This new phase of the trial began on January 21, 1963. The state called many of the same witnesses as before, but this time the focus was on Geza's mental health. Again, he was described as previously being mostly controlled and aloof.

No one could recall anything strange about his behavior in the past. Officers who interviewed him after the attack said that he never showed remorse for his actions, but that he seemed to understand exactly what he'd done. The prosecution also put two psychiatrists on the stand, both had spoken to Geza at length multiple times in the months since the murder. Neither of them found any evidence of mental illness that would qualify him as legally insane. In response, the defense produced two psychiatrists of their own.

The first testified that he'd given Geza every psychological test under the sun, and the results pointed toward paranoid schizophrenia. The second, Dr. Lindsey Beaton, had a theory that today would be considered even more shocking, and it stemmed from Geza's relationships with his parents. According to Dr. Beaton, Geza's relationship with his mother had been frustrating. Despite how close she and Geza had been, she rejected him by employing nannies to help raise him and his brothers. Dr. Beaton argued this set Gaza up

to expect rejection from women later in life. On the other hand, his father was so distant, Gaza never even pretended to have a relationship with him. The way Gaza saw it, his father didn't see him as a real man. According to Dr. Beaton, taken together, those two situations had turned Geza into a latent homosexual, which was considered a major mental illness at the time, and I cannot stress it enough, no legitimate doctor would ever think this anymore. But in that present moment, by claiming that Geza might be gay, Dr. Beaton was arguing that he was actually sick. However, it still didn't meet the legal definition of insanity. Specifically, that Geza didn't understand right from wrong at the moment of the crime.

But Geza and his defense had another, possibly more compelling explanation. Multiple personalities. Today this diagnosis is known as Dissociative Identity Disorder. Those suffering from DID have at least two distinct identities or alters existing within the same body. Even now, many experts consider it to be a rare and puzzling disorder, but in 1963, it was practically unheard of. None of that seemed to worry the defense, though. In fact, they were going to use it to their advantage. Because while the jury might not

know about DID, they had someone who did. They called Dr. A. Russell Lee to the stand. They called Dr. A. Russell Lee to the stand. He'd been hired for his expertise in schizophrenia, but was now there to comment on Geza's possible DID. He'd first interviewed Geza about it just four days before his courtroom appearance. Dr. Lee played the jury taped recordings of his interviews with Geza. In them, Geza described his mental state after World War II. It seemed like Geza experienced intense survivor's guilt. He said that he felt split, especially after the air raid that killed two of his three

brothers. From then on, according to Geza, it felt like someone else was always with him. This other person embodied all of Geza's negative qualities. Geza said his name was Pierre La Roche, and he was malicious and violent. He was the one who wanted revenge against Hoina for her alleged rejection, not Geza. And yet the more Geza talked about him, the more it seemed like he wanted to be Pierre. He imagined Pierre was a big, husky man. In contrast, Géza had always been insecure about his small frame and lack of muscles. Pierre drank and smoked and frequented bars and nightclubs.

He also made decisions that Géza was too timid to make, like moving to America after fleeing Hungary. All of this made it sound like maybe Pierre was just an alter ego, a persona Geza stepped into whenever he needed to feel braver or to justify making certain decisions. That is, until Geza told Dr. Lee about the periods of amnesia he began to experience. According to Geza, Pierre would take over from time to time. Later Geza would come back and have no memory of what had happened. Geza said it was like waking up from a deep sleep.

All of a sudden, people he'd never seen before were greeting him like they were old friends, calling him Pierre. Apparently Pierre was even capable of having entire relationships with people that Géza had no knowledge of. Which was how Géza came to know a woman named Ruth Kruger. She was a fellow immigrant who'd come looking for Geza at the hospital one day. Only she wasn't actually looking for Geza, she was looking for Pierre, because she was going to have a baby.

His baby. She was going to have a baby, his baby, and soon she was going to be called to the stand to testify about it. In January of 2008, real estate agent Lindsay Buziak received a call from a woman who said that she and her husband were urgently seeking a home with a budget of $1 million. Eager for the commission a deal like this would bring, Lindsay found the perfect home and set up a showing. Just one hour after the showing, Luciak's colleagues found her lying in a pool of blood in the master bedroom with multiple stab wounds.

To this day, the case remains unsolved. I'm Savannah Breimer, host of the True Crime podcast Killer Instinct, the research-backed show that covers cases like Lindsay's and aims to bring justice to the families of victims of horrific crimes. Each month, I explore a new sector of true crime, from serial killers to stalkers to female killers. For each case, I break down the moments leading up to the crime, debunk past theories, and share the experiences of those affected by these tragedies. Join me every Wednesday as I unveil the truth behind some of the darkest cases in history. Listen and subscribe to Killer Instinct wherever you get your podcasts.

In January 1963, 36-year-old Geza DiCapilani's trial took an unexpected turn. His defense team was trying to prove that Geza was legally insane when he murdered his wife 25-year-old Joina. But rather than a more typical diagnosis, Geza's lawyer was pushing for something relatively unheard of at the time. They claimed Geza had multiple personalities, or what we today know as dissociative identity disorder. According to Geza, his alternate identity, Pierre La Roche, was in charge at various points of Geza's life. During those times, Geza had no memory of anything, which

is common for those suffering from DID. That's how he found himself having a child with a woman he'd apparently never met. In 1959, two years before he met Heuna, Geyser was living in Boston, Massachusetts. He was at the hospital where he worked when Ruth Kruger, a 25-year-old bank teller who just emigrated from West Germany came looking for him, or rather she was looking for Pierre. According to Geza, he had no memory of ever meeting Ruth, but she didn't know that, so when she saw him, she came right out and said she was pregnant. And although Geza claimed he had no idea who she was, he didn't question her. He told Ruth he would support the child financially,

but he had no intention of marrying her. Disappointed and alone, Ruth moved to Sweden where she had the baby. It was a fantastical story, and the prosecution didn't waste any time tracking down Ruth and bringing her to the US. A few days later, the now 29-year-old testified against Geza. Ruth corroborated most of Geza's account. She said they'd met in 1959 and had a brief relationship that resulted in her having a child. But she added a lot of details that Geza hadn't shared, including the actual excuse he gave for not marrying her.

According to Ruth, the problem wasn't that Geza didn't know her, it was that he said he already had a wife and she was in a mental hospital. In fact, Ruth believed this version of events for four years, up until the moment the prosecution contacted her. But that wasn't even the biggest bombshell Ruth dropped, because Ruth said she'd never heard of Pierre La Roche. Under oath, she told the court she'd only known the father of her child by one name, Geza Tkappelani. Ruth's testimony was a massive blow to the defense, one they struggled to recover from before the jury entered deliberations.

It took two days for them to come back with a verdict, and in the end, the jury found Geza guilty of murder in the first degree, but they recommended sentencing him to life in prison rather than the death penalty. All twelve jurors were convinced that he was legally sane at the time of the crime, but still severely mentally ill, and while they wanted to hold him accountable, they didn't think execution was warranted. After the trial, Geza was sent to the California Medical Facility about 90 miles north of San Jose in Vacaville, but that's not where his story ended.

At the time, there was no such thing as life without parole, which meant Geza would be periodically given the chance to receive his freedom, and he was determined to get out one way or another. His first two hearings were uneventful, but the third, which took place in 1975, twelve years after his sentencing was different. This time around, Geza had a plan. He asked the board to let him travel to Taiwan as a medical missionary. That way, he could use his knowledge and skills as a doctor to atone for his sins.

Geza had managed to get the Catholic Church on his side. Father Christopher, who'd married him in Hoina, organized a letter-writing campaign. He even petitioned the Archbishop of San Francisco, who personally reached out to the chairman of the parole board. But while Gaza had the church's support, there was no one there for Hoina. Her mother, Alona Piller, was still alive, although her health had declined since the trial. Still, the parole board didn't alert her or the prosecution about this third hearing,

and so there was no one there to fight them on it. On November 13, 1975, 48-year-old Gezi was released on parole after serving just 12 years of his life sentence. He was freed on the condition that he would travel to Taiwan to work as a medical missionary. So that's exactly what he did. But once he was out of the country, Geza quickly changed his tune. Just three years later, in 1978, he wrote a letter complaining that his regular parole checks amounted to harassment. He even threatened to sue the state of California for $1 million if they continued to persecute him.

And then the following year, he disappeared. When officials realized he was missing, a warrant went out for his arrest and his name was given to Interpol, but it seems like no one followed up. Even when Geza resurfaced in West Germany in 1980, he'd apparently remarried while in Taiwan, and he and his new wife were living happily in their new home. He was even working at a hospital again, but he couldn't outrun his past forever. At some point that year, a local women's magazine published an article about infamous

criminals, and Geza made the list. After being outed as the acid doctor, Geza was fired and presumably forced to start over in a new West German town. But even though Geza's true identity was no longer a secret, he still seemed untouchable. Two parole agents recommended extradition, first in 1982, then again in 1994. For whatever reason, it seems like both of those requests weren't carried out. After that, Geza went dark again. No one heard from him until 2002, when he was 76 years old.

That year, the San Jose Mercury News tracked him down for the 40th anniversary of Hoina's murder. By that point, Geza was living a quiet life in a small town in northwest Germany. He'd become a German citizen two years prior, which meant extradition was off the table. During the interview, Geza still didn't show any remorse for his actions. Instead, he begged the reporter to think about the damage the article would cause him. Geza said what he'd done to Hoina was a mistake, one that he'd quote, paid enough for. After the interview, the acid doctor truly faded into obscurity.

If he's still alive, Geza DiCapilani would be 101 years old. That same year, in 2002, Hoina's mother, Ilona, passed away at 90 years old. She was buried in the family plot with her husband and Hoina. At long last, they were reunited. And while they were denied the justice they deserved, hopefully, they finally found peace. Thanks so much for listening. I'm Carter Roy and this is Murder True Crime Stories. Come back next week for the story of a new murder and all the people it affected.

Murder True Crime Stories is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you like what you heard today, reach out on social media at crimehouse on TikTok and Instagram. Don't forget to rate, review, and follow Murder True Crime Stories wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference. And to enhance your Murder True Crime Stories listening experience, subscribe to Crime House Plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode ad-free, and instead of having to wait for each episode of a two-part series, you'll get

access to both at once, plus exciting bonus content. We'll be back next Tuesday. Murder True Crime Stories is hosted by me, Carter Roy, and is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Murder True Crime Stories team, Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benedon, Natalie Pertsofsky, Sarah Camp, Megan Hannum, Hi there, it's Vanessa Richardson. Crime House is your go-to destination for the most gripping true crime shows. On my show Killer Minds, join me and forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels for two new

episodes as we dive into the twisted story of the Dr. Death serial killer, Michael Swango. Craving more deep dives into the minds of the world's most dangerous killers? Follow Killer Minds on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen.