Absolutely fascinating reading Steve, as usual. Looking at the picture of the family in the barn, I just can't see how a single individual could have committed a crime like this. It seems as if at least one of the three would have been able to run while the others were being attacked. Then again, only one set of foot prints were seen coming from the woods. Truly the stuff of horrors.
Reannan | 12.18.07 - 11:13 pm | #

This was the scariest story I ever read!
Emily Booth | 12.18.07 - 11:30 pm | #

Steve, thank you for introducing this mystery to us. Never heard of it before... Unsolved crime from 1922, discussed to this day... wow. Will the Madeleine case follow this after many years will have passed...
Kristi | 12.19.07 - 4:03 pm | #

Excellent post, Steve. I majored in German and relish the change to try and put it to use - but I'm a lot rusty. This case is fascinating, as are most unsolved crimes before computer-technology made research a simple feat. I'm still fascinated by the case of the boy found in a cardboard box in the 1940's (?) who remained unidentified. Looks like a child abuse case.

If I can ever find the German-language book to which you linked, I'll get it and try to read some of it. I'm glad you posted about this. I can't wait to read what other people come up with in your comments.
Christen | 12.20.07 - 1:34 am | #

jesus steve, the nightmare before Christmas indeed!



(A hollow wind whistles outside. Snowy footsteps crunch. A ghostly pallor dims the landscape. )

No i'm fine really.

Have a good break!
pinkdrummergirl | 12.20.07 - 12:43 pm | #

You know, it didn't occur to me how close to Xmas we are, but the fact that this horrific crime may have taken place in the wintry German countryside does lend it a spooky relevance to the season.

And I think this is one of the scarier unsolved crimes I've ever read about.

You all may find this of interest:

"Death on Paradise Ridge."

It's about a similar unsolved crime from my hometown, Nashville, TN.
Steve Huff | Homepage | 12.20.07 - 3:45 pm | #

Reannan wrote:

"I just can't see how a single individual could have committed a crime like this. It seems as if at least one of the three would have been able to run while the others were being attacked."

****

This gets a bit less mysterious when one knows how the victims were clothed. The two women were in their normal day clothing, the man wore just his long underpants and shirt, and the little girl was in her nightgown.

It's as simple as this: since the victims felt threatened by the stalking, they made sure to lock all their doors at night. So, one of the women went to the barn to secure it. The killer, lying in wait there, attacked and killed her. When she didn't come back, the second woman went to look after her. She was attacked and killed likewise. Then Andreas Gruber, having already prepared for the night, and wondering where his wife lingered, went to the barn, too. Last of all came the little girl, who had been to bed sent early. She used to sleep in her mother's bed, and most have felt very frightened already, when she rose to go in search of her mother...

In short, that evening, the victims were assembled in the barn after death, but they were never assembled there alive.
miriam | 12.20.07 - 11:53 pm | #

Sorry for the mistakes.

Please read: "who had been sent to bed"

"must have felt".
miriam | 12.20.07 - 11:55 pm | #

There is a poem I remember. One I can do in talk, but not in writing. Hope you can pick it anyway.

Goes like (blush, this is awfull):

Wer reitet so spaet durch nacht und wind?

Es is ein vater with seinem kind.

Uffuff, Poem is beuatifull..though, Hope nobody turns around in graves because of my post. But: Wer reitet so spaet durch nacht und wind. Es ist ein vater mit seinem kind.. Do you know what it is?
kirsti | 01.30.08 - 3:21 am | #