Murder Investigation: Missing Businessman Found Dead, Suspect in Custody
Munich, July 23, 2026 – The Munich homicide commission is investigating a murder in the Freimann district of Munich. A 51-year-old businessman, who had been reported missing, was found dead in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district. A 37-year-old suspect is now in pre-trial detention.
The victim, a 51-year-old businessman from the Starnberg district, was reported missing by his partner on Wednesday of last week (July 15, 2026). He had not returned home the previous evening, and contact with him had been lost, according to Armin Ritterswürden, head of the Munich homicide commission.
Car Discovered at Motorworld, Freimann
Criminal investigators discovered the businessman’s car outside Motorworld, an event venue in the Freimann district of Munich, which is believed to be the crime scene. As suspicion of a violent crime grew, a large police force, including dogs, drones, and a helicopter, searched the Anzinger Forest in the Ebersberg district.
37-Year-Old Suspect in Pre-Trial Detention
Further investigations led to a strong suspicion against a 37-year-old man from the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district. The suspect was arrested, and on Tuesday, the Munich District Court issued an arrest warrant for him on suspicion of murder, at the request of the public prosecutor’s office. The man is now in pre-trial detention. Authorities stated that the suspect was already known to the police. His nationality was not disclosed by investigators, as it is rare and could lead to conclusions about his identity. The victim was German.
Motive Suspected to Be Greed
The businessman was eventually found dead in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district. How his body got there remains unclear. An autopsy revealed that the victim died as a result of massive violence. According to police, the victim and the suspect had a business relationship, which investigators believe to be the motive. The public prosecutor’s office is currently treating the case as murder for greed.
Extensive material, including data carriers, was secured during searches. These traces, along with surveillance camera footage, must now be evaluated. Both the police and the public prosecutor’s office emphasized that the investigations are in their early stages and could take weeks or even months to complete.
