The criminal police in the Upper Palatinate want to use modern investigation methods to solve a 45-year-old murder case. On June 16, 1978, children playing found the mutilated body of 15-year-old Christa Mirthes in a well shaft in Schwandorf. To this day, the violent crime against the young person remains unsolved. That’s why an investigative group was set up at the criminal police in Amberg a few months ago to solve the so-called cold case and has studied old files.
The police reported on Thursday that they had actually managed to secure a DNA trace. The officials do not rule out that this came from the perpetrator. “All the evidence from back then was examined again using the most modern technology,” explained police spokesman Claus Feldmeier. The DNA trace has now been discovered, which so far has not been able to be assigned to any person. This track is a building block. “Above all, we rely on witnesses again.” Maybe someone who didn’t want to speak back then would be ready to testify now.
In order to solve the case, the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office has offered a reward of 10,000 euros. The investigators are aware that after such a long time it may well be that the perpetrator is no longer alive. It’s about leaving no stone unturned to clarify this case, said Feldmeier. Especially in order to be able to give the victim’s relatives some certainty. However, if the perpetrator is still alive, he could still be charged and brought to trial even after such a long time, provided the crime is still classified as murder. Unlike manslaughter and other crimes, murder does not have a statute of limitations.