Who murdered 39-year-old Michael Steiger in the early hours of July 22, 2021? As reported in the Innviertler Nachrichten, the man was shot in cold blood with a shotgun in Geratskirchen, a small town near the border in the Lower Bavarian district of Rottal-Inn. The unsolved case was broadcast last week on the well-known ZDF program “Aktenzeichen XY”. The investigators assume that Steiger, who lived with his partner’s family on a remote farm, was executed by the killer at 6:17 a.m. with a shot. Moderator Rudi Cerne spoke of a “horrific bloody deed”.
According to chief inspector Klaus Paßberger from the Passau criminal police, who spoke on “Aktenzeichen XY” about the status of the investigation, the motive of the perpetrator is completely open. Paßberger brought several possibilities into play. The victim is said to have had high debts. It is possible that the man had contacts with criminal circles. The reason for this could be his criminal past – the victim was in prison for several years for arson.
The 39-year-old, who set up his own business with a small excavator company after his release from prison, is said to have had several affairs privately. “He has been described to us as a womanizer,” said Paßberger on “XY”. In addition, there were always conflicts within the family.
The Passau chief inspector spoke of a “great will to kill”. The perpetrator wanted to end the life of the 39-year-old with all his might. The murder weapon has not yet been found, it was a shotgun, caliber 16. The police also do not rule out contacts in the rocker milieu.
In the meantime, the investigators’ trail also led to the Innviertel, as reported in the Innviertler Nachrichten. A house search was even carried out on a 75-year-old pensioner from the Ried district.
Jealousy was suggested as a possible motive. However, the investigations against the Innviertler were not substantiated and were discontinued.
A nightly drive by the victim on the day before the crime caused the police a lot of headaches. Accordingly, it took Steiger half an hour longer than the usual travel time from a construction site in Hebertsfelden to his place of residence. “XY” moderator Cerne said: “This half hour is what matters now.”
A reward of 10,000 euros has been offered for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator. The Kripo Passau accepts information under the telephone number 0049/851/95112222.
Source: Nachrichten
