Mysterious murder case: 35 years after Ulrike's disappearance, everything remains unclear!

Mysterious murder case: 35 years after Ulrike's disappearance, everything remains unclear!

The hunt for answers continues: There is still no clarity in the case of 26-year-old Ulrike Herrmann, who disappeared in October 1990. The biology student was traveling back to Germany from a vacation in Canada and wanted to hitchhike to Hamburg. She hitchhiked along the A5 and A7 motorways; the last known sighting took place on October 23, 1990 at the Allertal Ost service area north of Hanover. From there their trail is completely lost. On June 14, 1991, the case was presented for the first time on the ZDF program “Aktenzeichen XY ... unsolved” in order to obtain information from the public. Since then, investigators have continued to work on this mysterious case, which raises many questions.

What's particularly strange is that a convicted rapist suspected of being connected to the case received a mysterious postcard three and a half years after Ulrike's disappearance. There was a photo of Ulrike and the text “Ulrike H.” printed. What lies behind this mysterious message could potentially provide crucial clues to the whereabouts of the young woman. But here too the police rely on the help of the public.

Memories and missing items

Ulrike Herrmann was not only reported missing in the weeks after her disappearance, but there were also numerous sightings at various rest stops. It had been seen at the Wetterau, Kirchheim, Hasselberg and Allertal Ost service areas, but the last confirmed sighting was at the Allertal service area. Investigators found some of her things, including clothing and her backpack, but some important items that could be crucial to possibly solving the case are still missing. The missing objects include brown lace-up boots in size 39/40, her passport, her ID card and a pair of Nikon binoculars (No. 253998).

The Gifhorn criminal police are asking for witness statements, especially from people who may have seen Ulrike at the said rest stops. Anyone who has information about a VW LT high-box van driving in the area or who took Ulrike with them at the time in question can call 05371 / 980 0 or the trusted telephone number 05371 / 980 777. A reward of 5,000 euros is being offered for valuable information that will help clarify the case.

Part of a larger problem?

Ulrike Herrmann's case is not isolated, as according to current reports there are many unsolved missing person cases in Germany. For example, in January 2023, around 9,300 people were registered as missing, most of whom were found within the first four weeks. But cases like Ulrike Herrmann's are not isolated cases - her fate is reminiscent of other inexplicable disappearances in the country and raises the question of what exactly goes wrong in such cases.

Despite all the advances in investigative technology, a great darkness remains over this incident. “Case number XY ... unsolved” will take up the case again today, giving hope for new clues. Maybe someone who knows something can provide the crucial clue that leads to a solution. Because one thing is certain: Justice for Ulrike Herrmann is urgently needed, and the window of opportunity for answers gets smaller with every passing day.

Further information about the case can be found on the websites of ZDF, star and South Courier to find.