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Hinterkaifeck murders

The Hinterkaifeck murders were the unsolved killing of six people on a remote Bavarian farmstead in Germany on 31 March 1922.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Hinterkaifeck murders were the unsolved killing of six people on a remote Bavarian farmstead in Germany on 31 March 1922. The victims were members of the Gruber-Gabriel household and the family’s maid. The case remains one of the best-known unsolved murders in German history.

Background

Hinterkaifeck was a remote farmstead in Bavaria, near the village of Kaifeck and the hamlet of Gröbern. The name was used for the farm rather than an official municipality.

The murders

On the evening of 31 March 1922, six residents were killed at the farm. Contemporary and later accounts identify a mattock as the murder weapon and describe severe head injuries.

Investigation and theories

Police investigated the case extensively, but no definitive suspect was ever charged or convicted. Later discussions have proposed multiple theories, but none has been proven.

Legacy

The murders are widely regarded as one of Germany’s most notorious unsolved crimes. They have continued to attract public attention in true-crime writing and historical discussion.

Key facts

  • Six people were killed at the Hinterkaifeck farmstead on 31 March 1922.
  • The victims were Andreas Gruber, his wife Cäzilia, their daughter Viktoria Gabriel, Viktoria’s two children, and the maid Maria Baumgartner.
  • The killings were carried out with a mattock or similar farming implement.
  • The crime scene included unusual evidence suggesting the killer may have remained on the property after the murders.
  • No one was ever convicted, and the case remains unsolved.
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Canadian context

The case has no direct Canadian connection, but it is discussed in Canadian true-crime and general-interest contexts as a classic unsolved murder case.

Frequently asked questions

What were the Hinterkaifeck murders?
They were the unsolved 1922 killing of six people on a remote farmstead in Bavaria, Germany.
Who were the victims?
The victims were Andreas Gruber, Cäzilia Gruber, Viktoria Gabriel, Viktoria’s children Cäzilia and Josef, and the maid Maria Baumgartner.
Where did the murders happen?
They occurred at the Hinterkaifeck farmstead, about 70 kilometres north of Munich in Bavaria.
Was the case solved?
No. The murders remain unsolved and no one was convicted.
What weapon was used?
Sources identify a mattock or similar farming tool as the murder weapon.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinterkaifeck_murders
    Supports: Date, location, victims, weapon, and unsolved status.
  2. The True Crime Database — https://www.thetruecrimedatabase.com/case_file/hinterkaifeck-murders/
    Supports: Victims, location, discovery details, and claim that the case remains unsolved.
  3. Jack Rosewood — https://jackrosewood.com/hinterkaifeck-murders/
    Supports: Name origin, location context, and discussion of suspects.
  4. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinterkaifeck_murders
    Supports: Location description, victim list, and note that Hinterkaifeck was not an official place name.
  5. German Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinterkaifeck
    Supports: German-language account of the murders, victims, and investigative details.