The Case of Gabriel Kovari

Gabriel Kovari, 22, was found dead in a London churchyard after meeting Stephen Port online in 2015. His murder formed part of a series of killings that were initially missed by investigators, allowing the killer to continue.

Gabriel Kovari was a 22-year-old Slovakian national who became the second known victim of Stephen Port, a serial killer operating in Barking, London. On August 28, 2015, Kovari met Port through a dating app and went back to his flat, where he was drugged with a fatal dose of GHB. Following his death, Port transported Kovari’s body to a nearby churchyard, marking a shift from his earlier behaviour. Despite similarities to a previous death, the connection was not immediately identified by police. This failure allowed Port to continue targeting victims.

Kovari’s body was discovered in a churchyard near Stephen Port’s residence. Evidence suggested he had been killed elsewhere and moved to the location after death. The scene bore similarities to later cases, indicating a developing pattern.

The investigation into Kovari’s death did not initially connect it to earlier or subsequent cases. Opportunities to identify links between victims were missed, and the case was not treated as part of a series at the time. It was only after further deaths occurred that investigators began to reassess earlier cases, eventually linking them to Stephen Port through forensic evidence and digital communications.

Stephen Port was arrested, charged, and convicted of the murder of Gabriel Kovari along with three other victims. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Gabriel Kovari’s case exposed critical investigative failures that delayed the identification of a serial killer.