German mayor tortured, stabbed, and set on fire by adopted daughter

Germany is in a state of shock following the brutal attack on the Mayor of Herdecke, Iris Sthalcer, by her 17-year-old adopted daughter, who, according to authorities, tortured her for hours in the basement of their house before setting her on fire and stabbing her.

The 57-year-old SPD politician survived the attack, suffering 13 stab wounds, skull fractures, and burns to her hair and clothes, after the minor reportedly used deodorant and a lighter to set her alight.

Mayor’s warning ignored

As Bild reveals, one day before the attack, Sthalcer had telephoned the police station in the Wetter/Ruhr area, stating that she felt threatened by her adopted daughter and was seeking protection. However, her plea was ignored, resulting in the tragedy unfolding 24 hours later.

Motive: revenge

German authorities are investigating the motive of revenge, as the 17-year-old reportedly felt inferior and neglected compared to her 15-year-old adopted brother. The mayor had already informed social services in a letter, describing the increasing tension in their relationship.

Prosecution does not treat case as attempted murder

Despite the brutality of the attack, the prosecution is not treating the case as attempted murder, but as grievous bodily harm, as the 17-year-old was the one who notified the authorities after the act, a fact considered an indication of “withdrawal from the crime.” For this reason, an arrest warrant was not issued against her.

Timeline of the horror

The mayor testified that her adopted daughter repeatedly hit her on the head with a heavy object, stabbed her with two different knives, and attempted to burn her alive. Police officers located one of the knives in the 15-year-old son’s backpack and blood-stained clothes, which are believed to belong to the perpetrator.

The case has caused intense reactions in Germany, with politicians and social bodies calling for an investigation into the authorities’ omissions, as the mayor’s warning was ignored just hours before the horrific incident.

(Information from protothema.gr)