Iris Stalzer's Adopted Daughter Allegedly Stabbed Her Mother 13 Times – 2 Photos of the Girl

Herdecke (NRW) - It is a story that leaves people stunned. Iris Stalzer, the newly elected mayor of the town of Herdecke, turned to the police for help just one day before the terrible crime. The 57-year-old felt threatened - by her own adopted daughter. Her concern: well-founded. A few hours later, she was the victim of a brutal act of violence.

According to the investigators, Stalzer went to the police station in Wetter/Ruhr on Monday. There she described her fear and asked for support. Police spokesman Christoph Neuhaus later confirmed : "There was personal contact twice on Monday. A case was opened and all necessary measures were taken." But what was classified as a routine case turned into a tragedy within a day.

There had apparently already been tensions in the house beforehand. Stalzer lives in Herdecke with her husband, a management consultant, and two adopted children. When the husband was on a business trip, violent arguments broke out again.

Stalzer had already expressed her distress in an urgent letter to the police and youth welfare office in June of this year. In it, she described how she felt abandoned and that the situation at home was increasingly escalating. According to a police spokesperson, they had "discussed the complaint with her and dealt with it conclusively". But apparently nothing changed.

On Tuesday afternoon, just one day after her call for help, the 17-year-old adopted daughter finally called the emergency services herself. She claimed that her mother had been attacked by several men. When the emergency services arrived, they found Iris Stalzer badly injured in her living room - covered in blood, with 13 stab wounds in her upper body, bruises and skull fractures.

The mayor later explained in hospital that her adopted daughter was the perpetrator. She had held her in the cellar for hours, beaten her, threatened her with deodorant spray and fire and finally attacked her with knives. The motive: jealousy and the feeling that the brother was being given preferential treatment.

During a search of the house, investigators discovered bloodstained clothing and a knife in the adopted son's rucksack - presumably traces of the crime.

Despite the cruelty of the incident, no arrest warrant was issued for the 17-year-old. The public prosecutor's office in Hagen does not classify the crime as attempted murder, but as grievous bodily harm. Because the teenager alerted the emergency services herself, this is considered a "withdrawal from the crime" - with the result that she remains at large for the time being.

Both adopted children have since been taken into the care of the youth welfare office. Iris Stalzer, who was only elected mayor on September 28th with strong support, is still in hospital. Her condition is stable, but the emotional wounds are likely to be far deeper than the physical ones.

A woman who had dedicated her life to the common good asked for help - and was not listened to. The question now remains as to whether this tragedy could have been prevented and how quickly the politician will get back on her feet.

We have already reported on the case:

Herdecke - 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.