By Michael Behrendt and Timo Beurich
The crime shocked the police and public prosecutor’s investigators: On Monday, two seriously injured people and two bodies were found in two Köpenick apartments – including an eleven-year-old girl. Investigations revealed that the entire crime was planned – only the child had no idea.
An anonymous caller informed the police on Monday morning around 9 a.m. that an accident had occurred in an apartment on Gelnitzstrasse. Police and firefighters kicked in the door and found a seriously injured 70-year-old. He had cuts and is currently still being treated as an outpatient in hospital.
Investigations at the crime scene led the police to an apartment on Kinzer Allee in the same district, where the bodies of a 68-year-old and an eleven-year-old girl were discovered. A 42-year-old also had serious cuts and is being treated as an inpatient in a clinic.
According to BZ information, the family is said to have suffered from the current world situation. Therefore, the 70-year-old and the 68-year-old decided to end their lives at the same time. Also part of the cruel plan: the murder of the eleven-year-old.
As the BZ learned, several farewell letters were found in the apartments and are currently being evaluated. The spokesman for the Berlin public prosecutor’s office, Sebastian Büchner, confirmed this, but did not provide any further information about the ongoing investigation.
The case
Apparently the family tragedy happened like this: The 42-year-old – apparently the mother of the dead girl and herself the daughter of the dead 68-year-old – first killed her child with a knife and then took her own life along with her mother. When the older woman was unable to do this on her own, the 42-year-old is said to have finally stabbed her, according to BZ information – until the 68-year-old was also dead.
At the same time, the 70-year-old – who is said to be the girl’s grandfather – tried to end his life in his apartment. Without success.
According to BZ information, arrest warrants were applied for against the two survivors. In the case of the 42-year-old for the murder of the eleven-year-old, in the case of the 70-year-old for a homicide “by omission”. Because: He knew about the planned murder and did not prevent it.
The family are German citizens and, according to available information, none of them have any migration background. An investigator on the BZ: “An incomprehensible act, an incomprehensible tragedy. Unfortunately, you can’t see into people’s heads.”
Reporting on suicide
As a rule, BZ does not report on suicides so as not to provide an incentive for imitation – unless suicides receive special attention due to the circumstances.
If you or someone close to you is affected by depression, please contact the telephone pastoral care: ☎ 0800 111 0 111. The Berlin Crisis Service provides free help at nine Berlin locations – 24 hours a day, anonymously if desired: www.berliner- Krisendienst.de