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Germany: Manhunt underway after three bodies found

Felix Tamsut with AFP | Nik Martin
April 6, 2025

The bodies of two men and a woman were found in a small town in Germany, triggering a major manhunt for a suspect seen leaving the scene. Residents have been asked to stay at home and not pick up hitchhikers.

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Cars being cordoned off by police, with houses and trees behind them
Police first cordoned off the village of Weitefeld to find the man suspected of killing three peopleImage: Thomas Frey/dpa/picture alliance

Police in the western German state of Rhineland-Palatinate are searching for a suspect in the killing of three people in the Westerwald region early on Sunday morning.

Authorities confirmed on Sunday evening that the victims were a 47-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman, and a 16-year-old male.

Their bodies were found at a house in the town of Weitefeld, located some 30 kilometers (almost 19 miles) from the city of Siegen.

According to a police spokesperson, the manhunt has not been successful so far.

The spokesperson said the assumption is that the background to the case is "family based," with town mayor Karl-Heinz Keßler saying both the victims and the alleged perpetrator are long-time residents of Weitefeld.

Did one of the victims contact the police?

According to police, an emergency call was made at 03:45 from a woman who reported a violent incident, with police not ruling out that one of the victims was the caller.

Police also told German public broadcaster SWR that there are clues that suggest a firearm and a stabbing weapon were used.

The search is currently focused on a male suspect who was seen leaving the scene as soon as police arrived.

Police said on Sunday evening that tactical officers (similar to US SWAT teams) and a helicopter had been deployed in the search, which would continue through the night.

The roughly 2,000 residents of Weitefeld, as well as other villages in the region, are encouraged by police to stay at home and keep windows shut as a precautionary measure, and to refrain from picking up random hitchhikers.

Still, police said there is no "concrete danger" to the residents.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery