Kiel: The police have new hope in the “cold case” of Linde Perrey

“Cold Case” from Kiel
Linde Perrey was murdered in 2016. Now the police are hoping for a breakthrough – and the public’s help

The police officers didn’t have to go far when they were called to Dehnckestraße 1b in Kiel on June 18, 2016. The plain, six-story apartment building in the Schreventeich district is only around 300 meters as the crow flies from the police station.

Residents had reported that they had not seen their second-floor neighbor Linde Perrey for several days. The then 72-year-old was troubled by health problems. She had balance problems and was hard of hearing, almost deaf in the summer of 2016, but she maintained her independence. She was always out and about in the district with her walker, doing her daily errands, shopping in nearby supermarkets or doing banking transactions. The single senior citizen did not have much contact with other people.

Intensive police investigations did not lead to the perpetrator

When the officers opened the door to Linde Perrey’s apartment, it was immediately clear: There were no health reasons. Linde Perrey was murdered. According to the Schleswig-Holstein police, she had “massive violent injuries” on her body State Criminal Police Office (LKA) and she had been dead in her apartment for several days. “Through the investigation, the period of the crime was narrowed down to June 13th to June 15th, 2016,” stated the Kiel murder investigators. And: It was obviously a robbery-murder. The victim’s brown wallet and dark jacket were missing from the apartment.

To this day, investigators have not said exactly how the pensioner died. This is the knowledge of the perpetrator – and he has not yet been caught almost eight years after the crime, despite all efforts. Despite intensive forensic investigation at the crime scene, despite the questioning of witnesses, despite a reward of 5,000 euros, despite large-scale publicity campaigns. A presentation of the case on the ZDF program “Aktenzeichen XY … unsolved” around six months after the crime did not help the investigators. “Linde Perrey, her face is known to many Kiel residents. But no one knows the exact circumstances of her death in 2016,” concluded the “Kieler Nachrichten” six years later. There was simply no lead to a perpetrator, at some point all investigative approaches were exhausted.

But there is no statute of limitations for murder. In 2022, the LKA made a new attempt. The people of Kiel”The Cold Case Unit has been dealing with unsolved murder cases between the North and Baltic Seas since 2015. The investigators take a new look at the files, interview new and old witnesses or collect further evidence. Time and again, “Cold Case” units in Germany have succeeded in to clarify cases that sometimes go back decades.

Police are making a new attempt in the Kiel murder case of Linde Perrey

The officials in the Linde Perrey case went public again, distributing information brochures in which they asked many questions. One of them: “Are you in possession of digital photos from the beginning of 2016 to June 18, 2016 that were taken at or from the house at Dehnckestraße 1b or in the neighborhood? Also pictures in which the house 1b or the “The environment can only be seen in the background would be extremely helpful.”

The traces found in the apartment were “examined using the most modern methods of forensic science,” said the Cold Case Unit. “There are promising leads that could very well lead to the perpetrator.” Also an ongoing one DNA screening still gives investigators hope today.

Now, around a year and a half after the case was reopened, the Kiel LKA is apparently one step further – and has found several new approaches to solving the murder of the elderly woman. According to witness statements, they published a phantom photo of a man. Linde Perrey is said to have been seen several times in the area around her apartment in the company of the then 55 to 60-year-old. The unknown man is described as “strong with short, age-gray hair and dark eyes.” The murder investigators expressly point out that the man is not being sought as a suspect, but as a witness.

Another man is also of interest to the LKA. He is said to have begged at apartment doors around Dehnckestraße in June 2016 and introduced himself as “Strunk” or “Struck”. He could also provide important clues to solving the robbery-murder and is also wanted as a witness.

But the “Cold Case Unit” also still has many questions for everyone else in Kiel and elsewhere:

Police officers swarmed the Schreventeich district again in January 2024 and, among other things, put up posters with the phantom image and their questions. In view of the time that has passed, the public prosecutor’s office and the police also believe: “With new investigative approaches and a DNA series investigation that is currently still ongoing, it still appears possible to solve the crime.”

The “Cold Case Unit” of the Schleswig-Holstein State Criminal Police Office will receive information about the robbery-murder of Linde Perrey by calling (0431) 16042852 or by email at the address [email protected] in contrast to. The public prosecutor’s office has offered a reward of 5,000 euros.

Sources: Schleswig-Holstein State Criminal Police Office (1), Schleswig-Holstein State Criminal Police Office (2), “Kiel News”DPA news agency