War Trauma and Double Murder: New Book on Lars Kragh
A new book examines how untreated PTSD in a Balkan War veteran led to one of Denmark's darkest family tragedies
In the summer of 2016, 37-year-old Lars Kragh murdered both of his parents in East Jutland, Denmark — a case that stands as one of the darkest family tragedies in Danish true crime history. Kragh was a veteran of the Balkan Wars who suffered from severe PTSD, and his case has now been examined in depth in a new book by authors Christensen and Mistrati.
A book that goes beyond the crime
The book, titled Mord i Familien — roughly translated as Murder in the Family — carries the subtitle Revealing the Deadly Consequences of War Trauma. The authors bring complementary perspectives to the material: Christensen works as a literary scholar, while Mistrati is a journalist. Together, they have crafted an analysis that goes far beyond a straightforward crime narrative.
Rather than simply recounting the events, the book digs into the complex psychological portrait behind the killings, examining how Kragh's mental state and trauma-related condition contributed to the tragic outcome.
PTSD and the risk of extreme violence
Post-traumatic stress disorder — PTSD — can in rare cases result in extreme violence when the condition is not adequately managed or treated. The case of Lars Kragh illustrates a broader and troubling issue surrounding war veterans with service-related psychological injuries who do not receive sufficient support upon returning home.
The book combines journalistic reportage with in-depth sociological and psychological analysis, offering readers both the factual details of the case and a theoretical framework for understanding the mechanisms that can drive individuals to commit such serious crimes.
