The act perpetrated by Hedin, commonly known as Hurvamorden, is infamous for being the worst known act of spree killing in Swedish criminal history until the 2025 Risbergska school shooting, and for the fact that Hedin, as a police officer, had been assigned to investigate his own first murder for an extended period.

Being the local police representative, he took part in the investigation and even answered questions from the national media concerning the case.

On the night of August 21, 1952, Hedin went on a killing spree after Östberg refused to take him back despite numerous attempts to win her over.

[2] Thirty minutes later, Hedin arrived at the retirement home in Hurva, where Östberg lived and worked.

After starting a manhunt, police found his car parked near a cabin by Bosarpasjön, Skåne County.