New Leads in Decades-Old Murder Case After Aktenzeichen XY Appearance
Over a decade after the murder of a former construction entrepreneur in Pohlheim, Germany, investigators are pursuing new leads following the case’s appearance on the popular TV show Aktenzeichen XY… ungelöst.
According to a joint statement from the public prosecutor’s office and police, approximately 20 tips have been received since the broadcast. A team of officers from the "Cold Case" unit of the Central Hesse Police Headquarters and the Capital Crimes Division of the Giessen Public Prosecutor’s Office will assess and evaluate the information in the coming days.
The current status of the investigation is such that the quality and potential impact of the new leads cannot be disclosed at this time.
Brutal Murder and Investigation
The 80-year-old victim, according to investigators, succumbed to "massive violence." Authorities believe that the case involved a minimum of three perpetrators based on footprint evidence discovered at the scene in the Gießen district.
On the night of September 9, 2011, the suspects allegedly broke into the victim’s home, overpowered him, and forced him to open a safe in the basement. Failing to do so, they brutally murdered him.
DNA Evidence and Unsolved Case
Forensic experts from the Hessian State Criminal Police Office’s Criminal Investigation Institute have recently secured an additional DNA trace from an unidentified male individual on the aforementioned safe. This discovery brings the total number of distinct male DNA profiles identified at the crime scene to two. Ongoing investigations and comparisons with international databases are currently underway.
Despite extensive efforts, including public appeals, 370 interrogations, and DNA screening of around 500 individuals, the case has remained unsolved until now. The "Cold Case" unit and public prosecutor’s office have been actively investigating the case in the suburb of Watzenborn-Steinberg for several months.
Reward for Information
A total reward of 8,000 euros has been offered for information leading to a breakthrough in the case, with contributions from both the public prosecutor’s office and private individuals. The authorities urge anyone with potential information to come forward.
