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Hinterkaifeck Farm Murders
Six people murdered on an isolated Bavarian farm. The killer lived in the house for days after, eating their food, feeding the livestock. Footsteps led to the farm—but none led away. The previous maid fled, saying the farm was haunted. She was right to run.
1922
Kaifeck, Bavaria, Germany
0 Hinterkaifeck is Germany’s most disturbing unsolved murder.
The Victims
Who died:
- Andreas Gruber (63)
- Cäzilia Gruber (72)
- Viktoria Gabriel (35)
- Cäzilia Gabriel (7)
- Josef Gabriel (2)
- Maria Baumgartner (maid)
The Discovery
April 4, 1922:
- Four days after murder
- Neighbors investigated
- All killed with mattock
- Bodies in barn and house
- Farm still tended
The Killer Stayed
Disturbing details:
- Livestock fed after murder
- Food eaten
- Smoke from chimney
- Killer lived there
- Days with corpses
The Clues
What was found:
- Footprints in snow
- Led TO farm only
- None leaving
- Newspaper found
- Previous observations
The Maid
Maria Baumgartner:
- New maid (first day)
- Previous maid fled
- Said farm haunted
- Heard footsteps attic
- Sensing presence
Never Solved
The investigation:
- 100+ suspects
- Including Hitler associates
- Heads sent for analysis
- Lost during WWII
- Mystery remains