What the Authorities Found in the Cellar of the Mayor of Herdecke: New Details on the Knife Attack

New findings in the case of the knife attack on Mayor Iris Stalzer shed a shocking light on the crime that shook the entire region on October 7, 2025. Investigators found evidence in the basement of the apartment building that significantly expands the picture of the crime.

As confirmed by the Hagen homicide squad, the crime scene was discovered in the basement of the mayor's house. In another room, the investigators came across two suspected murder knives and items of clothing that are believed to have been worn during the crime. These finds are considered crucial for further evidence.

According to Jens Rautenberg, head of the homicide squad, there are many indications that the crime was committed within the family. "There were disputes within the family, " Rautenberg told RTL. However, the specific motive behind the crime is still the subject of ongoing investigations.

The case had caused a nationwide sensation: the 48-year-old mayor was found seriously injured in her home at the end of September with several stab wounds. Her condition was initially critical, but she is now out of danger.

HERDECKE, GERMANY - OCTOBER 07: Police stand near the home of the mayor-elect of Herdecke, Iris Stalzer, after she was stabbed to death by unknown persons on October 07, 2025 in Herdecke, Germany | Source: Getty Images

According to the investigators' findings so far, the 17-year-old adopted daughter, who is now suspected of the crime, made the emergency call herself. She initially described that unknown persons had broken into the house. Based on this statement, the police and emergency services initially assumed that the house had been robbed and launched a manhunt. It was only during the forensics that the suspicion against the girl herself was confirmed.

The mayor's two adopted children are said to have been in the house at the time of the crime. While the 15-year-old adopted son was initially questioned and later taken into the care of the youth welfare office, the 17-year-old is considered an urgent suspect.

October 07, 2025, North Rhine-Westphalia, Herdecke: Police officers bring a teenager into a police car. The newly elected mayor of Herdecke, Iris Stalzer (SPD), has been found seriously injured in her apartment. According to security sources, she had been stabbed several times | Source: Getty Images

As RTL reports, the teenager was not remanded in custody after being questioned. The Dortmund public prosecutor's office stated that there was "no risk of absconding or indications of a risk of recidivism". She is now under the supervision of the youth welfare authorities and is receiving psychological support.

As previously reported, the relationship within the family has recently been strained. Conflicts are said to have occurred on several occasions. Neighbors also reported loud arguments on the morning of the crime. One witness said: "There was arguing and shouting. Then it was suddenly quiet. The police arrived shortly afterwards."

The investigation is now focusing on how the crime took place and what role the individual family members played. The two knives that were found in the cellar are currently being forensically examined. The clothing that was seized is also said to contain traces of the crime.

The police have so far withheld further details. According to the investigators, the statements of the young people are being compared with the evidence at the crime scene. Official charges have not yet been brought against the 17-year-old.

Meanwhile, the citizens of Herdecke continue to be stunned. Many know Iris Stalzer as a committed and down-to-earth mayor who is appreciated for her closeness to the people.

Firefighters and rescue workers transport Iris Stalzer, the newly elected mayor of Herdecke, on a stretcher before she is taken away by helicopter after she was seriously injured in a knife attack in Herdecke, western Germany, October 7, 2025. | Source: Getty Images

While the mayor is recovering from her serious injuries, the homicide squad is continuing to reconstruct the crime. The results of the analysis of the evidence could be decisive in the coming days to clarify what really happened - and why it came to this terrible escalation.

The discovery of the knives in the cellar is likely to play a central role in this. It shows that the attack probably did not develop spontaneously, but took place in a domestic environment. It remains unclear what motives may have driven the young woman.

Ambulances are seen near the site where Iris Stalzer, the newly elected mayor of Herdecke, was seriously injured in a knife attack, in Herdecke, western Germany, October 7, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, the investigators are appealing to the public not to jump to conclusions. "We are carefully examining all leads," emphasized Rautenberg. "Our aim is to reconstruct the exact sequence of events and provide clarity for everyone involved."

The knife attack on Iris Stalzer continues to shake the city and is causing nationwide condolences. The case not only reveals a family tragedy, but also sheds light on the darker side of private conflicts that can suddenly end in violence.