Assassination attempt on Stalzer: Her daughter is not the suspect.
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New details have emerged in the attempted murder case involving Herdecke Mayor Iris Stalzer, revealing that the teenager accused of attacking her is not her biological daughter but her 17-year-old adopted daughter.
The case dates back to October 2025, when Stalzer was found with multiple stab wounds at her home in Herdecke, Germany. Initial reports suggested she had been attacked by unknown assailants, leading investigators to consider a possible politically motivated assault. However, the investigation later shifted in a very different direction.
According to prosecutors, the adopted daughter is accused of attacking Stalzer with two knives inside the family home. Investigators allege the teenager also attempted to destroy evidence after the assault. The motive remains unclear, although authorities believe the attack stemmed from long-standing family conflicts rather than political reasons.
The revelation that the suspect is Stalzer's adopted daughter has attracted widespread attention after earlier reports referred to her simply as the mayor's daughter. German media later clarified that both the 17-year-old suspect and her younger brother had been adopted by the family.
In June 2026, prosecutors in Hagen formally charged the teenager with dangerous bodily harm under Germany's juvenile justice system. Because she is a minor, the case will be heard in juvenile court, and proceedings are expected to remain closed to the public.
Stalzer survived the life-threatening attack and later assumed office as Mayor of Herdecke. The case continues to draw national attention in Germany due to its shocking family circumstances and the dramatic shift from initial suspicions of a political attack to allegations of serious domestic violence.