A fatal car accident near Graz a few weeks ago turned out to be an act of desperation. A 73-year-old apparently saw no other way out than murder and suicide for himself and his wife, who suffered from severe dementia.
It is a terrible tragedy that happened in Styria: at the end of September, a 73-year-old man from Graz crashed his car into a retaining wall in the municipality of St. Radegund in the early afternoon hours. All help came too late for his wife (71). The 73-year-old died ten days later in hospital from his serious injuries.
It was initially believed that the driver had suffered a stroke while driving and caused the accident. But police found a shocking suicide note in the couple’s apartment. Accordingly, the 71-year-old’s severe dementia had driven the man to a desperate act, the Graz Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed in response to a ‘Krone’ request. He apparently saw no other way out for himself and his wife than death.
Far fewer murder cases this year than in 2023
There have been five murders in Styria so far this year. Two men and three women have been killed, three perpetrators have committed suicide and two are in custody. So far, 25 attempted murders have been reported. Last year there were a total of 26.
Last year there was an extremely high number of murders compared to 2024, namely 16. There is no explanation for this upward outlier. “On average, between six and eight murders have been committed per year in recent years,” says Harald Winkler, the head of the murder group at the State Criminal Investigation Department. It was not until 1980 that there was a similar outlier with fifteen murder cases.
If you or someone close to you is in an exceptional psychological situation or suffers from suicidal thoughts, please contact the telephone advice service on 142. Other crisis hotlines and emergency numbers can be found HERE.
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.
