Baden-Württemberg
Man escapes from psychiatric hospital and stabs woman
Securing evidence in Wiesloch, Baden-Württemberg
© -/Rene Priebe / DPA
Nursing staff observe how a man escapes from the Nordbaden Psychiatric Center – but cannot stop him. This has dire consequences. A 30-year-old woman dies.
According to investigators, a man has escaped from a psychiatric facility in the north of Baden-Württemberg and is said to have one stabbed woman. Police arrested the 33-year-old suspect on Friday. Despite quick help and immediate transport to a hospital, the 30-year-old woman succumbed to her serious injuries.
According to the police and public prosecutor’s office, the suspect had been housed in the Nordbaden Psychiatric Center (PNZ) in Wiesloch since 2021 due to a ruling by the Heidelberg Regional Court. Criminals who are, for example, mentally ill or addicted are accommodated in the so-called penal system.
According to the PZN, the man was housed for several crimes, including intentional bodily harm, coercion and insult. “Because of his mental disorder, the man was found to be incapable of criminal responsibility,” the center said. The patient was housed in a closed rehabilitation ward. After progress in therapy, he reached a stage in a relaxation concept that enabled him to go out with an escort on the PZN site and in the town of Wiesloch.
Wiesloch: Woman succumbs to her injuries in hospital
According to the report, nursing staff observed the escape and gave chase. The police, for their part, immediately initiated an investigation. Nevertheless, the accused was able to move away from the prison premises. Exactly how that happened still needs to be determined, it said.
He then injured the 30-year-old with a knife in a shop in downtown Wiesloch. According to investigators, it was initially unclear where he got the weapon from.
As he left the store, the police threatened to shoot him. The emergency services were then able to arrest the man. A police spokeswoman initially did not provide any further information.
The victim died in hospital from serious injuries. The police cordoned off the crime scene with red and white tape. Experts in full-body protective suits secured evidence. Several rescue workers were also on duty.
“The PZN is deeply shocked by the terrible act,” said the facility in the evening. Every year, around 10,000 adult patients are treated there as inpatients, part-time inpatients and outpatients, according to the facility’s website. In addition to the headquarters in Wiesloch, there are clinical branch offices in Bruchsal, Mosbach/Buchen, Schwetzingen and Weinheim.
Note: This article has been updated.