Last updated: October 23, 2026 · By NegativeVibeFix · 12 min read
In 1922, six people — an entire family and their maid — were murdered with a mattock on a remote Bavarian farmstead called Hinterkaifeck. The killer was never found. What makes the case uniquely chilling is not just the brutality, but the evidence that the murderer stayed on the farm for days afterwards: feeding the cattle, eating bread baked after the killings, and vanishing without a trace.
What was Hinterkaifeck?
Hinterkaifeck was a small, isolated farmstead about 6 kilometres north of the village of Gröbern and roughly 70 kilometres north of Munich, in Bavaria, Germany. In 1922 it was home to the Gruber family: 63-year-old Andreas Gruber and his 72-year-old wife Cäzilia; their widowed daughter Viktoria Gabriel, 35; Viktoria’s children, 7-year-old Cäzilia and 2-year-old Josef; and the family’s newly hired maid, 44-year-old Maria Baumgartner.
The name “Hinterkaifeck” was never an official place name — it was simply what locals called the farm. After the murders the farm was demolished, and today only a memorial stone marks the site.
- Location: Near Gröbern, Bavaria, Germany
- Date of murders: Night of March 31 to April 1, 1922
- Victims: 6 (the Gruber family and maid Maria Baumgartner)
- Weapon: A mattock (a pickaxe-like farm tool)
- Status: Unsolved — no one ever charged
The night of the murders: March 31, 1922
On the evening of Friday, March 31, 1922, Andreas Gruber, his wife Cäzilia, their daughter Viktoria, and 7-year-old Cäzilia were lured into the barn one by one and struck down with a mattock. The killer then entered the farmhouse, where he murdered 2-year-old Josef in his cot and the maid Maria Baumgartner in her bedchamber.
The precision of the attack suggested planning: each victim was apparently drawn to the barn separately, possibly by noises. Little Josef and Maria Baumgartner, who had arrived at the farm only hours earlier for her first day of work, never had a chance.
The discovery: four days later
For days, no one noticed anything wrong. Neighbours later recalled seeing smoke from the farmhouse chimney over the weekend and someone feeding the cattle — deeply unsettling in hindsight, because the entire family was already dead.
On Tuesday, April 4, neighbours led by Lorenz Schlittenbauer entered the farm and made the gruesome discovery: four bodies stacked in the barn, covered with hay, and two more in the house. The victims’ heads had been covered — a detail some interpret as a sign of remorse.
The investigation
More than 100 suspects were questioned in what became one of Germany’s most intensive murder investigations of the era. Yet the case collapsed under the weight of its own strangeness.
Key evidence
- Footprints in the snow leading from the forest to the farm — but none leading back.
- A newspaper from Munich found on the farm that no family member had bought.
- Strange sounds in the attic reported by Andreas Gruber days before the murders; he told neighbours he believed someone was living in the house.
- Scratch marks on the barn door’s lock, and a set of house keys that went missing.
- The cattle were fed and the dog tied up — someone tended the farm after the killings.
- Fresh bread had been baked, and meat cut from the larder.
Suspects
| Suspect | Why suspected | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Karl Gabriel | Viktoria’s husband, declared dead in WWI — some claimed he survived and returned | Never proven; alleged sightings unconfirmed |
| Lorenz Schlittenbauer | Neighbour who led the discovery; rumoured affair with Viktoria | Questioned repeatedly; never charged |
| Josef Bärtl | Former farmhand with a grudge, escaped from prison nearby | Never located at the time |
Theories: what really happened at Hinterkaifeck?
- The vengeful husband: Karl Gabriel faked his WWI death and returned to kill the family.
- The hidden intruder: Someone lived secretly in the attic for days (explaining the noises Andreas heard) and killed to protect their hideout.
- Robbery gone wrong: Discounted — money was left untouched.
- A neighbour’s crime of passion: Centered on Schlittenbauer’s alleged relationship with Viktoria.
Hinterkaifeck in popular culture
The case has inspired books, documentaries, and the 2009 German film Hinter Kaifeck. It is often called Germany’s most famous unsolved murder.
Visiting the site today
The farm was demolished in 1923, a year after the murders. Today, a small memorial stone near Gröbern marks the location. The site is on private farmland — visitors should be respectful and seek permission.
Why it remains unsolved
Forensic science in 1922 was primitive: no DNA, no fingerprint database, and the crime scene was badly contaminated by the neighbours who discovered the bodies. Witness statements conflicted, and post-war Bavaria’s chaos hampered the investigation. In 2007, students at the Fürstenfeldbruck police academy re-examined the case with modern techniques but could not name the killer with certainty.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Hinterkaifeck murders happen?
On the night of March 31 to April 1, 1922. The bodies were discovered on April 4, 1922.
Where was the Hinterkaifeck farm?
Near the village of Gröbern, about 70 km north of Munich in Bavaria, Germany. The farm was demolished in 1923.
What weapon was used?
A mattock — a heavy pickaxe-like farm tool. The same weapon killed all six victims.
Sources & further reading
- Munich police investigation files (1922–1926), Bavarian State Archives
- Fürstenfeldbruck Police Academy case review (2007)
- Hinterkaifeck: Germany’s most mysterious murder case — documentary sources
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and entertainment purposes. Descriptions of violent crimes are based on historical records. Reader discretion is advised.