An 82-year-old shot his wife and himself, leaving his disabled stepdaughter alive. But she died alone in the basement of the house. The autopsy will shed light on many things, but one important question remains: Did the Upper Austrian hope that the 57-year-old would be found in time?
Why did Sylvana have to die in the basement of the beautiful family home just outside Perg? The 57-year-old from Mühlviertel, who was severely affected after being bitten by a tick as a teenager, probably died of hunger and died of thirst, while her mother (75) and stepfather (82) lay dead in the bedroom two floors above her.
Next to it lies the weapon, a Flobert rifle. Forensic research has shown that Brigitta H. most likely died from a shot in the head. So did her husband, who convicted himself.
The mailbox was overflowing
The crime probably took place in August; the last traceable contact with the family was on August 25. It is still unclear when exactly Sylvana died. As reported, the family drama only became known on Friday after a friend of the 75-year-old became concerned. Neighbors were surprised by the closed shutters and the overflowing mailbox, but thought the family was on vacation in the Waldviertel.
When did who die and how?
“We hope to obtain more information through the autopsy of the bodies. It will provide information about the course of the crime and the time of death of the individuals,” said Linz prosecutor Ulrike Breitenender.
‘Brigitta would never have left Sylvana helpless’
But some questions will probably remain unanswered forever. Why, for example, did the stepfather, who was terminally ill with cancer, take his wife to die with him, but not his helpless stepdaughter. Did he hope that she would be found in time and saved?
Because there is no suicide note, everything remains speculation. Also whether the 75-year-old woman died of her own free will. “We do not believe that, otherwise she would have informed someone who would take care of Sylvana,” say neighbors at the local inspection. The mother had devoted herself for some forty years to caring for her daughter, who almost died of meningitis, and teaching her to walk and talk again.
The escape route would have been open
In any case, Sylvana was not locked in the basement when she fell into the laundry room or collapsed from exhaustion and died.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
