Murder of Carolin Göbel — A9 Brandenburg 2023

The Victim and Discovery

Carolin Göbel was a 34-year-old German woman from the Berlin area. She worked as a freelance graphic designer and lived alone in a small apartment near the A9 motorway. Göbel was known among friends and family as a quiet, well-integrated person with no known conflicts or threats.

On June 19, 2023, she was found dead at a rest stop on the A9 motorway in Brandenburg. The first report came from a motorist who discovered a lifeless body next to the parking area. Police were called at 14:37, and it quickly became apparent that this was a suspicious death with signs of violence.

First Impressions from the Crime Scene

The first team of forensic technicians from Brandenburg police established that Göbel had suffered multiple stab wounds to the upper body and neck. The blows had been inflicted with a blunt or crushed object, which initially confused investigators. Her pockets were emptied, and there were no signs that she had been sexually assaulted or subjected to violence with sexual motives.

Examination of the crime scene indicated that she had likely been driven to the rest stop shortly after the attack, as the blood traces were fresh and the area was relatively isolated. DNA samples, fingerprints, and video surveillance from nearby areas were collected.

The Investigation Develops

In the days following the discovery, German police worked intensively to map Göbel's recent movements. Police issued appeals for information and requested witnesses. It emerged that shortly before her death, she had attended a work lunch with colleagues, leaving the venue around noon.