On a quiet Tuesday afternoon in the small German town of Herdecke, the newly elected mayor, Iris Stalzer, found herself at the center of a harrowing and deeply personal crisis—one that would send shockwaves through the community and the nation. Stalzer, a 57-year-old politician who had only recently claimed victory in a tightly contested mayoral runoff, was discovered with multiple stab wounds inside her home, her life hanging in the balance.
According to CNN and other major outlets, emergency services were alerted shortly after noon on October 7, 2025. The call came from Stalzer’s own 17-year-old daughter, who initially reported that her mother had been seriously wounded outside the house in what was described as an attempted robbery. But when police arrived, the scene told a different story: Stalzer was found sitting in a chair inside her living room, bleeding from multiple stab wounds. Investigators quickly determined that the attack had actually taken place indoors, not outside as first reported.
Stalzer was airlifted by helicopter to a nearby hospital, where doctors worked to stabilize her. The injuries were grave—vital organs, including her lungs, had been damaged. For hours, her condition was described as life-threatening. But by the following day, police and prosecutors announced that her life was no longer in immediate danger, though the ordeal had left its mark both physically and emotionally.
The case took a dramatic turn as police began to piece together the events leading up to the attack. According to The Independent, investigators searching the house found two blood-stained knives and clothing believed to have been worn during the assault. One knife was discovered in the room of Stalzer’s 15-year-old son, while the other was found in his backpack. Blood-stained clothing thought to belong to the 17-year-old daughter was also recovered. Authorities noted attempts had been made to clean the crime scene, but forensic teams were able to uncover blood stains using scientific methods.
Both of Stalzer’s adopted children—the 17-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son—were detained for questioning. From her hospital bed, Stalzer herself identified her daughter as the person responsible for the attack, according to police investigator Jens Rautenberg. “Stalzer pointed to her daughter as the suspect,” Rautenberg stated, a claim echoed in multiple press briefings and confirmed by BBC and The Telegraph.
Despite the gravity of the incident, authorities have been cautious about drawing conclusions regarding motive. At a press conference in the nearby city of Hagen, Rautenberg declined to speculate on the reasons behind the stabbing, stating that the investigation was ongoing and that the nature of the family conflict remained unclear. Prosecutor Bernd Haldorn later clarified that the case was being treated as grievous bodily harm rather than attempted murder, and that no arrest warrants had been issued for the minors. Instead, both children were to be released and placed under the supervision of Juvenile Services while the investigation continued.
The attack has captured national attention, not least because of Stalzer’s recent political victory. On September 28, 2025, she won the mayoral runoff in Herdecke—a town of about 23,000 nestled in Germany’s Ruhr region—securing 52.2% of the vote against the long-dominant Christian Democratic Union (CDU) candidate, Fabian Conrad Haas. Her inauguration was scheduled for November 4, and the city administration had expressed “shock and disbelief” at the news of the attack, as reported by CNN and local broadcaster WDR.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz was among the first to publicly respond, condemning the violence and expressing hope for Stalzer’s recovery. “We fear for the life of the mayor-elect, Iris Stalzer, and hope for her full recovery. My thoughts are with her family and loved ones,” Merz said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. The incident has drawn comparisons to previous attacks on German politicians, including the 2019 murder of Walter Lübcke, a local official killed by a neo-Nazi for his support of pro-refugee policies. However, investigators were quick to emphasize that there was no indication of a political motive in Stalzer’s case. “Based on current information, there are no indications that the attack was politically motivated. A family background is assumed,” police stated in an official release.
As more details emerged, the contours of a troubled family dynamic began to surface. According to local German media, there had been prior tensions between Stalzer and her daughter, including a serious incident the previous summer. Tensions were also reported between Stalzer and her son, though the specifics remain undisclosed. The prosecutor’s office has confirmed that, at present, the focus remains on the family context rather than any external or political factors.
The investigation has not been without its complexities. Initial reports described the attack as occurring outside the home, but forensic evidence and subsequent police statements pointed to an indoor struggle, with signs of an attempt to clean up the scene. The discovery of blood-stained items and the use of scientific methods to recover cleaned blood stains have added further layers to the inquiry.
For the people of Herdecke, the incident has been both shocking and unsettling. The town, located between the cities of Hagen and Dortmund, is not accustomed to such high-profile violence. The fact that the attack involved the town’s incoming mayor—and that the suspects are her own children—has only deepened the sense of disbelief. Local officials have called for privacy and compassion for the family as the investigation proceeds, emphasizing the need for careful handling of the minors involved.
In the aftermath, the community and the broader German public are left grappling with difficult questions about family, public service, and the pressures that sometimes accompany political life. While the investigation continues, and the motives remain murky, one thing is clear: the events of October 7 have left an indelible mark on Herdecke and have underscored the vulnerability of even those in positions of authority to the most personal of tragedies.
As Herdecke prepares for its next chapter, the hope is that healing—both physical and emotional—can begin, and that the lessons from this deeply troubling episode will not be forgotten.