Police Renew Efforts to Solve 54-Year-Old Murder Case at Gas Station

Lippstadt/Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia - Nearly 54 years after the tragic shooting of Friedhelm Kiel, the Dortmund police have resumed their investigation into his murder, following the discovery of new evidence.

The widow of the victim, Margarete Kiel, aged 86, expressed hope that the renewed efforts may finally lead to the capture of her husband's killer. She stated, "It is my big wish to witness the arrest of my husband's murderer. This crime has devastated our family and caused immense pain."

The crime took place on November 3, 1971, when Friedhelm Kiel, then 34, was closing the Shell gas station with his wife, Margarete, who was 32 at the time. As they were preparing to leave, an armed man, approximately 30 years old and wearing a distinctive pink scarf, attacked the couple. The assailant forced Margarete to the ground to steal the cash bag, which contained roughly 14,000 Deutschmarks. When Friedhelm attempted to intervene, the robber shot him, leading to his death two days later. Margarete sustained serious injuries during the incident.

In a recent turn of events, investigators reopened the cold case files and utilized advanced forensic techniques to extract DNA from evidence that had remained untouched for over five decades. A police spokesperson announced that this genetic evidence, while not directly linking to a suspect, represents the most promising lead in the case's history.

Investigator Ullrich Kayser, who has been reviewing the case files extensively, acknowledged the significance of the DNA findings. He emphasized the importance of public assistance in this renewed inquiry, urging anyone with information to come forward. "We are in the process of comparing the DNA with the suspects identified at the time. If anyone has any leads, now is the time to share them," he said.

Margarete Kiel, recalling the harrowing details of that fateful night, noted the distinctiveness of the assailant's pink scarf, which she believes could jog the memory of someone from his social circle. The authorities suspect that there may have been an accomplice who waited in a getaway vehicle, a yellow Fiat coupe, nearby.

After the tragedy, Margarete moved with her two daughters, Claudia and her sister, first to Bavaria in an attempt to escape the haunting memories of the event. Claudia, now 58, shared that she was only five years old when her father was murdered, and her mother had told her that she waited two years for her father to pick her up from their grandmother's house.

The investigation remains active, and the police are encouraging anyone with information to reach out at 0231 132 7441.