'Vengeful Dentist' Story a Hoax

If it sounds too good (or insane) to be true, more proof that it probably is. MSNBC reports that the wildly popular story of the Polish dentist who tore out her ex-boyfriend's teeth is a hoax. Though the story was replete with names (Anna Mackowiak and Marek Olszewski, respectively) and colorful quotes ("the b**** had emptied my mouth"), it began to unravel as soon as MSNBC placed a few calls to Poland.

Though the original story claimed Mackowiak could go to jail for three years if found guilty, police in Wroclaw say they have no record of the crime and are "not investigating such a case." Poland’s Chamber of Physicians and Dentists tells the same tale, and adds that it has no Anna Mackowiak listed in its roster of registered dentists. And in a nod to American gullibility, MSNBC notes that most Polish news outlets passed on the story (though one Polish TV channel did publish a piece—mocking the foreign coverage). Odder still, the story seems to have originated with the Daily Mail (which Newser cited); but the article's bylined reporter says, "My news desk isn’t sure where exactly it came from." (More Poland stories.)