Unsolved robbery from 1990 in Bielefeld: Elderly man, age 52, fatally struck with a brick; monetary reward available for information leading to arrest
In a significant development, the Bielefeld Police Headquarters' Cold Case Investigation Group has made a breakthrough in the 1990 murder of Erhard BĂźker, a prominent figure in the Bielefeld gay scene.
The victim, Mr. BĂźker, was brutally beaten to death in a playground near Bielefeld Central Station, and his wallet, containing approximately 200 D-Marks and an EC card, was stolen. On the night of the crime, Mr. BĂźker was last seen leaving the "Sperlingsgasse" bar near the station around 23:00, alone.
The perpetrator's exact whereabouts after the crime and the precise time spent in the vicinity of the male prostitution area near the station have remained unclear. However, the investigation group suspects the perpetrator may have connections to this milieu, although the details are not publicly documented. A motive based on deep-seated aversion to this scene is conceivable.
In 2003, evidence from this case was examined for DNA traces for the first time, but the findings were not conclusive. However, in the summer of 2024, the trace material was re-examined according to the latest scientific standards, and the results have now been obtained. The head of the investigation group, Markus Mertens, has stated that the examinations were successful, and the detected cellular material matches the DNA traces secured at the crime scene in 2003.
The saliva samples will be compared with the crime scene traces from this case. If a match is found, it could lead to the identification of the perpetrator. To this end, the investigation group plans to visit approximately 100 known contacts of the victim to obtain comparative saliva samples.
The re-examination of the trace material has allowed investigators to securely identify the trace leaver. However, the identity of the perpetrator remains unknown at this time. The Public Prosecutor's Office in Bielefeld has set a reward of 3,000 euros for tips leading to the identification, apprehension, and conviction of the suspect. This reward has been matched by a private individual who has offered an additional 4,000 euros.
Tips can be provided to the Bielefeld Police Headquarters / Cold Case Investigation Group. The investigation continues, and the public's help is crucial in bringing this case to a close. An autopsy revealed that Mr. BĂźker was killed by massive, blunt force trauma to the head, and the body of an unidentified individual was discovered on March 21, 1990, around 14:00 near Bielefeld Central Station. Witnesses claim to have seen the victim on the station square around midnight, but the exact circumstances of his meeting the perpetrator remain unknown.
A DNA series examination has been ordered by a judge of the Bielefeld Local Court, and the investigation group is hopeful that this breakthrough will lead to the resolution of this long-standing case.
