Original subtitles

Stefanie Berghoff, age 27, from Buchingen.

Went for a jog yesterday afternoon and never returned.

Did you notice anything different? Had she argued with anyone?

Not with me, anyway.

Going on exterior appearance, cause of death was a blow to the head.

No intercourse, but massive injuries to the genital area.

The husband has an alibi.

Personal circumstances are unremarkable,

which suggests a random perpetrator.

If it was a random perpetrator, it'll be a long haul.

- Really long. - Yes.

THE BLACK FOREST MURDERS

DAY 7

TASK FORCE SUNDAY

Then re-interview the witnesses with contradictory statements.

Bernd already did that.

Well, four ears are better than two. OK?

Right, we're finally making progress or at least some small progress.

Meaning?

Meaning Forensics found foreign male DNA in Stefanie Berghoff's genital area.

- Is there a match in the database? - Unfortunately not.

- Let's check it against the husband. - Tobi definitely didn't do it.

I see. And why not?

I know him, he's not the type.

He's not the type?

The DNA check is pointless. They were married.

That's why we're cross-checking the DNA.

If it isn't Tobias Berghoff's,

we have a lead.

Let me make this clear as a general rule.

If anyone here feels their personal connections

prevent them from investigating in an unbiased way,

they should consider leaving this incident room right now.

- OK? - What about Rocco Dettmers?

The winegrower's co-op employee.

His colleague confirmed the alibi.

Listen, shouldn't we look at the time of death again?

So far, all we're going by is stomach contents.

- Yes, maybe she ate later than we think. - Yes, exactly.

So, while Forensics check the traces against Rocco Dettmers,

we should get a saliva sample from Tobias Berghoff.

- Will you do that? - Hm...

I'll also ask Forensics about the stomach contents.

OK.

So far we're working on the assumption it happened between 3:48 and 4:30 p.m.

That's based firstly on the time Stefanie's mobile stopped working,

secondly on two witnesses claiming to have heard a scream at roughly the same time,

and thirdly, the state of digestion of the gastric contents.

Exactly, that's the latest I was told. What's new?

According to the family, recently her mobile has been switching itself off.

We also have further witnesses claiming to have heard screams

at a later time, around 6.30 p.m.

That was a small group of hikers. Here.

Would you like some cake?

- No, thanks, I just had breakfast. - The locals keep bringing us treats.

If, however, Stefanie Berghoff had something else to eat later on,

a recalculation of the digestion period

would indicate a possible time of death after 4:30 p.m.

Conclusion?

That would shatter two alibis.

Firstly that of her work colleague Rocco Dettmers.

He was at the vineyard until 4:30. That has been confirmed.

After that, his mobile was logged into the network cell near his home

but he didn't make any calls.

Maybe he left his phone at home while he went to Stefanie Berghoff...

- Do we have a DNA check? - It's underway.

- And secondly? - The husband.

- He was playing football until 5:30. - Has he been questioned?

No, not yet.

That's quite a few hypotheses and hardly any results.

Quite.

The thing with the husband will trigger speculation by the locals and the press.

- I'd like to avoid that. - Surely we can handle it discreetly?

Yes, of course.

But he might go public with his outrage.

This is good.

Is there any news?

Uh... no.

Actually, we'd like you to provide a voluntary DNA sample.

- A DNA sample? - Yes.

Just so we have your DNA as a reference.

What is this? Come on...

I'm helping as much as I can. I went through the calls with you...

- And now I'm a suspect? - Tobias, I can't go into details now.

But it would be extremely helpful if we could rule you out in some contexts.

Well, but how?

Of course you'll find traces of me if it's... if it's about that.

Stefanie was my w...

Thomas!

You think I could hurt Stefanie...

Do you think that?

It would really be extremely helpful, Tobias.

- It won't take long. - All right.

Just swab the inside of your cheek with that.

A bit more.

And on the other side. Please.

Great.

Hiya.

- And? - Got it.

It was torture.

I couldn't make it any easier for him.

That's not your job.

Are we going round in circles?

Well...

If we at least had the murder weapon.

They said there'll be two more boxes.

- Forensics, Vukovic. - Herrmann here.

I know you have a lot on your plate, but we sent a sample...

Yes, it's already arrived.

Urgent?

I know everyone's saying that.

Yes, that's why we process everything in the order it comes in.

Eight hours. That's the best we can do.

Yes, that's great. Thank you.

And?

Eight hours.

The timelines just don't add up.

- I can't make them change their statements. - I know, Navid.

You're saying it like it's my... Forget it.

Navid.

The inconsistency could mean

there was one scream at 4:30 and another at 6:30.

Understand?

- I just gave my opinion. - "Tobi didn't do it."

- Yeah, well... - Excellent police work!

Come on, Bernd, we all make mistakes.

Sure, the moment your female intuition comes from a man, you shoot it down.

Let me tell you, I bet Kramer left scorched earth behind her in Berlin.

Or she couldn't get promoted. And now she's taking it out on us.

I think you're just annoyed with yourself.

Morning!

Morning.

Piece of cake?

Yes, thanks. I haven't had any breakfast yet.

Female intuition.

You could have asked if I wanted some.

Freshly made dumplings!

I can offer you freshly made dumplings.

- No, thanks. - Enough for everyone.

- You see? Enough for everyone. - Wow, great.

Look at all these little footpaths and trails.

- We already searched them. - Yes, but...

How shall I put this, Thomas? Not all traces are static.

Wind, weather, wildlife, agriculture...

What are you trying to say?

I think we should search again with a large group.

Another big search?

These guys have done plenty of overtime already.

I know, but as we have nothing else, we need to look again at what we do have.

That's right.

Barbara, who's done the smallest number of overtime hours?

What?

Who's done the least overtime?

This is Kramer.

OK...

Josefine Schora, 21 years old, a student.

Apparently on her way home from choir practice. Left around midnight.

- Alone? - The choirmaster offered her a lift.

But she didn't want to leave her bike. It had been stolen before.

Man, that's shit.

That's the woman who found her.

- Have you got anything yet, Sandra? - Yes.

The traces suggest she was pulled off her bike and knocked unconscious.

She was subjected to sexual acts.

Luckily not my area, right?

Dr Birkle?

Time of death? Rough estimate is between 1 and 5 a.m.

Cause of death presumably drowning.

An accident? Or did he place her like that?

The drag marks suggest he dragged her to the bank

and pushed her face in the water to drown her.

You don't accidentally fall and land like that.

I'm off, then.

Hey. Want me to carry your cases?

Think I'm too weak to do it myself?

- Could it have been our perpetrator? - Hah!

A lot of people will ask that question.

Only a few hours between the murder and the time she was found.

It was a dry night, so we should get more evidence this time.

A lady's bike.

- We'll share a photo with the press. - I wonder how many people walked past.

Yes.

- You secured what was in the bins? - 200 yards either side.

200 yards. Let's extend the radius.

All right...

So, he...

he stops her here,

pulls her off the bike...

- Then he went through that hedge. - Yes, but where?

No signs of trampling, no snapped branches, nothing.

We're going to have to search the entire hedge.

- We haven't increased our manpower yet. - So what?

We need forensic tents.

Ms Vukovic.

We just completed the DNA checks.

Trace SB 10.4 does not match either of the two samples you sent.

The DNA on Stefanie Berghoff's body

doesn't match Tobias Berghoff's DNA nor Rocco Dettmers's.

- Good morning! - Morning.

Can I have everyone's attention?

OK, we will also be investigating the homicide at the River Egenz.

Presumably a repeat offender, possibly a serial killer.

We start with the usual: interview witnesses, mobile networks,

her social environment.

Did anyone follow her from choir practice?

- Any trouble at her student accommodation? - Yes, etc.

But I also want us to explore another approach that might help us.

If it's a random perpetrator, we must widen our radius considerably.

Meaning we don't just investigate if it's the same killer,

but also whether he's killed before.

Starting within a ten-year period, and nationwide.

- Yes, Bernd? - That's a hell of a lot of work.

Our IT system isn't compatible with all German states.

I understand your concern, but this might lead to a breakthrough.

Navid is already compiling unsolved cases in Germany

of murdered women and missing persons and he's been entering relevant data.

What has that got you, apart from red eyes?

Nothing yet.

And we're expanding the search to Switzerland, Austria and France.

Navid won't do all the work on his own. We'll get colleagues from Lauburg to help.

Why don't we transfer everything back to Lauburg headquarters right now?

Because all the logistics are here now.

Guys...

So far, we're assuming the killer has no relationship to the victim

but we can't discard that possibility either.

We're after any connection between Stefanie Berghoff and Josefine Schora.

Mutual friends or acquaintances.

Did they do anything together, go to the same nightclub?

Miriam, Dieter, you get on to this.

- Yes. - Thank you. Furthermore...

the distance between the locations is 19 miles.

You don't cover that on a rickety old bike.

Around the time of the murder two witnesses saw

a black or dark Zafira near the Buchingen crime scene

with a Lauburg number plate that we haven't yet identified.

Trace the vehicle owners and check their alibis.

You know what to do. Let's go. Thank you.

The two murders are just too different.

Stefanie was killed in broad daylight, Josefina Schora at night.

Stefanie Berghoff was hit on the head, Josefina Schora drowned.

It could be two different killers, but...

two young women killed in such close succession and proximity?

Well, we'll know for sure once Forensics have checked against sample SB 10.4.

That needn't necessarily be the killer's.

Yes. Hopefully we'll find some evidence at the Egenz crime scene.

Yes?

I... I brought some...

Before I eat it all myself again, I thought I'd... Here.

Did the Buchingen locals bring more cake?

Well, no. My mum made this one.

Oh. Thank you.

Yes. Anyway...

What's wrong, Snow White? Want me to test it first?

And?

It's good. It's really good.

Oh, by the way...

When's your dad coming back from Italy?

He's moving on to Portugal.

I forgot to say: he sends his regards and you're welcome to view the house.

DNA FRAGMENT SB 10.4 LOCATION: GENITAL AREA

TEMPLATE CONTAMINATED BY INHIBITORS

Any traces indicating sexual intercourse?

No.

The victim was violently raped,

presumably with hands,

but there are no indications of intercourse.

Like with Stefanie?

Not quite. No weapon was used.

And the cause of death was, as presumed, drowning.

Do you have the perpetrator's DNA?

Yes.

Ms Vukovic?

I don't know if this is good news or bad.

Just tell me.

I checked the extensive traces from the second victim against SB 10.4.

- Yes, and? - Negative.

So it's not the same perpetrator?

No.

OK.

- But I'm not satisfied it's sufficient. - Yes?

Sample SB 10.4 is a tiny fragment.

It's from Mrs Berghoff's genital area, but from a less conclusive spot.

We're assuming too much to allow this as evidence.

The fragment might not be from the perpetrator.

Maybe we'll find more DNA elsewhere.

But how? Stefanie Berghoff is getting buried tomorrow.

Her clothes.

We should meticulously re-examine all of Stefanie Berghoff's clothing.

What's he after? With sexual offences, one assumes sexual gratification.

And here we have a brutal sexual act, but no intercourse.

Again, here, signs of strangulation, but no intercourse.

So it's not about sexual gratification?

Not necessarily.

Sexual desire can also be satisfied by non-sexual acts.

Humiliation, demonstration of power.

But there are huge differences between the two murders.

They are variations, but not entirely different patterns.

And what about the traces of DNA?

Yes, they don't match at all.

Traces never lie, but they don't necessarily tell the whole truth.

Overall, I'd say it's highly likely we're dealing with the same perpetrator.

Can you give us a profile for him?

A man between 20 and 40 years old,

frustrated...

disturbed attitude towards females, probably struggling to meet women,

to win their interest.

Yeah.

I would have guessed that myself.

Anything more than that would be pure speculation.

Another question: no traces of semen have been detected

although both women were raped.

Could he have been interrupted and therefore looked for another victim?

There's only a week in between.

For the perpetrator, the attacks may have been a success.

But that could also mean further attacks.

Yes, I know, it's all rather frustrating.

Any more questions?

No.

Thank you, Mr Hoffmann.

Your outside approach gives us a valuable perspective.

- It's not meant to be any more than that. - Exactly.

I'll show you out.

Bye.

- Goodbye, thank you. - Bye.

"Traces never lie."

Come on. Does he think this is a musical?

Thomas.

Seriously, I could have come up with that myself.

He was recommended to me. I don't know...

Oh, well.

So we're looking for a frustrated man between 20 and 40.

- I need to remember that tomorrow... - Hiya.

Do you two have a minute?

- Is it important? - Yes, it's about the atmosphere.

- Yes? What? - I mean the people in the village.

Until now, everyone thought some crazy guy from elsewhere did that to Stefanie.

Some say a refugee...

Never mind, different topic.

But now, everyone's asking: why are the police still here?

They're based in Lauburg.

Was it one of us who then went on to kill in Lauburg?

Mistrust is starting to spread. People suspect their own neighbours.

Colleagues suspect each other.

If we don't catch him soon, then...

Then what?

Listen, Klinge...

Yes, it's difficult, with everyone knowing each other.

What would you suggest?

We could communicate that we're here for logistical reasons.

No, I don't feel any need to explain myself.

- Have a nice evening, then. - You too.

- Do you two have an issue? - You'll have to ask him.

Have a nice evening.

- Bye! - Bye.

I'm not sure this is a good idea.

People will be even more inclined to think we suspect a local.

I call it doing my job.

I don't know, I just find it...

How shall I put it? I find it a bit insensitive.

We seek to find a meaning in the things that happen to us.

We long to understand why something happened and what good it might do.

And if it isn't good, we seek solace.

Whether we seek it in God or in other ways,

it is part of our nature.

But what reason could we hope to find in the fact

that Stefanie isn't with us anymore?

That we will never see her again, never hear her laugh again?

And how will her husband, Tobias...

Peter, once again, my condolences.

- Thank you. - My condolences.

The family don't want you at the grave. It's private.

I see, yes, we were... Of course.

- Yes. - Yes.

Come on, let's go.

- Hello. - Hi.

Is the Zafira yours?

Yes, that's our car.

Well, he definitely had a different nose.

Probably straighter than that.

ADVANCED SETTINGS ANALYSIS PARAMETERS

ONLINE TRANSLATOR

About two thirds are missing persons.

The rest are unsolved homicides.

- OK. We need to narrow them down further. - Just homicides?

Yes, and only women up to 60, only the last five years, and no firearms.

OK.

Navid.

This is a marathon. You should pace yourself. Get some sleep.

Yes.

That was Forensics.

They found no foreign DNA on Stefanie's running shoe.

Just bite marks. It's likely an animal moved it.

So that means the shoe's location

provides no clues for the murder or the murder scene?

Yes.

...thyme.

It's a really bad signal. I only heard "thyme".

- Been to visit your mum? - I'm on my way there now.

Dad, later my colleague is coming over to view your house.

It would help if you came home some time.

It's over 30 years old, isn't it?

You're meant to replace them after 30 years.

My dad won't replace anything that's still working.

- The plumber's coming to look at it. - Really? Which one?

- His name's Bausching. - Ah, old Bausche!

- Another pal of yours? - No...

Well... I just know him from the pub. Why?

I can have a friendly beer and still do my job.

I wasn't saying that. I have no doubts.

Speaking of doubts...

What about the condition of the building fabric?

I mean, parts of this date back to before the war.

I'm beginning to realise I'm no good as an estate agent.

OK...

- Can you turn the light off? - Yes.

Bingo!

You mean the hair from the hedge?

Exactly.

It's almost definitely from a man.

Natural hair colour black, but partly dyed blond.

Ah, that's fairly specific.

Yes. Both the length and the dye are unusual.

Means nothing.

Yes. OK.

And here's the thing.

It's from the man whose DNA was on the bike.

- And on Josefine Schora's body? - Yes.

Yes! You're the best!

No.

Someone said to search the hedge, someone else found the hair. I just examined it.

But I'm happy to help. I'll carry on, then.

- Did she just put the phone down? - Sure. She's a true professional.

OK, um...

Let's assume the perpetrator stole the bike.

Ideally, he has no car, so a team examines all CCTV

in buses and trams on the night in question.

Navid!

A, I, double P, E for Echo, R for Romeo, S for Sierra, and then P-A-C-H.

Great.

Need a break after all that searching?

- Trying to steal my glory? - Not at all.

- Officer Aipperspach found the hair. - Absolutely.

Great.

Let's find the needle in the haystack.

Here, this could be something.

That one.

If you need any support, Ms Schora...

Thank you.

The undertaker is very kind.

He knows how everything works.

My son arrives tomorrow, so I won't be alone.

If there's anything at your end, if you have any more questions or...

- answers... - Yes, we'll get in touch.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

Stop it there.

Can you zoom in?

OK, now play it.

Fast forward a little.

OK.

Stop.

Can you print this out?

This is from route 1, at 11:27 p.m.

- An hour and a half before the murder. - Yes.

That's our man.

Now we'll get him.

We think this man is the perpetrator and want to go public with his image.

- Hang on. You think, you don't know. - There are strong suspicions.

- In such cases it makes sense to... - He might just be a witness.

The same DNA was on Josefine's body.

- It must be his hair. - We don't know that.

- That man might have committed two murders. - What if it isn't him?

A non-German suspect, possibly a refugee. Do you know what reactions that triggers?

Yes, damn it! But that can't be the decisive factor.

For now, only the police will investigate,

not the public.

I'll see you tomorrow.

My phone.

I'm beginning to think we'll never find him.

Some never are found.

True.

A girl disappeared in Berlin, 16 years ago,

in broad daylight.

She was... 14?

We threw everything we had at the search: helicopters,

manpower, tracker dogs, and...

Nothing.

We kept searching.

We appealed to the public, followed up leads,

re-interviewed the witnesses, nothing.

My boss worked doggedly on the case, but it was closed.

Investigation over.

But he couldn't stop thinking about it, and then, ten years later,

he read a report about an attempted rape of a young girl.

He looked into it, and found out

that the rapist lived about 200 yards away from the house

of that missing girl.

There was evidence, but nothing conclusive.

My colleague was sure he was guilty, but he couldn't prove it.

He talked his superiors into authorising undercover investigators.

Four weeks in, they become his friends.

After three months, he invites them back to his place.

They go drinking, to a brothel.

They spend a long time thinking about how they can get him

to make a confession that will stand up in court.

It was really tricky, but... they did it.

Was he convicted?

Yes, he got life. Twelve years after the crime.

- Twelve years! - Yep!

Never give up.

- Where are the biscuits? All gone? - In the top drawer.

Ah, yes.

Thank you.

Never give up.

DAY 28

Over there.

His hair is shorter.

Hello. Do you have any ID?

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