Hide transcript

Transcript

Chief Inspector Hanna Dreyer is highly satisfied. Thanks to the decisive support of the special task force that was quickly assembled, the Agneta Hellwig case has been solved.

As investigators soon discovered, Ms Hellwig was a deeply ambivalent personality. Initial suspicions, as well as impressions from the neighbourhood, had painted the picture of a kind-hearted, trusting, and somewhat naïve elderly lady. The dinner hostess appeared to be the perfect target for fortune hunters and opportunists: wealthy, elderly, living alone, without family, and more than generous towards her supposed friends.

Her closest friend, Constanze Bender-Beckman, had enjoyed expensive trips and exclusive events at Agneta’s expense. According to a neighbour, she had even built a house nearby — financed entirely by Ms Hellwig.

Mayari Schumann, hired as her personal art coach and responsible for Agneta Hellwig’s Instapic account, had received designer clothes and valuable gallery items as gifts. She allegedly pushed the elderly woman relentlessly, subjecting her to late-night rehearsals and increasingly demanding public appearances.

Silvan Rothe, who once drove an old, dilapidated car, now owns a sleek sports car. He runs a luxurious private occupational therapy practice, works only two days a week, and wears fine clothes and expensive watches.

During the investigation, it emerged that death threats against Agneta Hellwig had indeed been written — by her closest friend Constanze and her husband Johannes. In their recycling bin, investigators found a donation flyer on which Constanze had drafted phrases that later appeared on Instapic under the pseudonym alpha phantom rex.

At the same time, the couple publicly defended those threats using their real Instapic accounts — johnny_boy1954 and cococonny1956.

Suspicious — at least until investigators discovered several revealing letters in the elderly woman’s desk.

At that moment, the image of the sweet old lady began to crumble.

One of the letters proved beyond doubt that Ms Bender-Beckman had acted at Ms Hellwig’s own instigation.

The smartphone found in the bathroom was clearly identified as belonging to Annouka Satorius, thanks to a distinctive cat sticker — the same sticker displayed on her front door. The chat history contained references to notes identical to those previously discovered by the housekeeper. One such note was also recovered in Agneta’s studio.

On the advice of her lover, Ms Satorius informed all involved parties that they had been deliberately deceived.

After retrieving the corrected toxicology report from Dr Riegel’s laboratory, investigators identified the object containing traces of the lethal toxin: a water glass from which Agneta had drunk during her performance.

Initial suspicion fell on Ms Schumann, who admitted placing the glass on the piano.

The decisive breakthrough came with the discovery of an SD card hidden inside a book in Agneta’s home.

It revealed that a miniature camera had been concealed in the cat’s collar.

The camera had recorded crucial evidence on the night of the crime.

Four individuals were seen handling the water glass with a small vial containing white powder.

Mayari Schumann — identified by her lipstick, which she had placed on the grand piano.

Johannes Beckmann — identified by his signet ring, visible in photographs taken that evening.

Constanze Bender-Beckman — exposed by a scratch inflicted by Ms Hellwig’s cat. She wore a bandage at the time, later found in her handbag along with a blood-stained handkerchief.

All three were clearly seen pouring a measured amount of toxin into the water glass.

It became evident that Agneta Hellwig’s friends had endured numerous humiliations.

But when they realised that she had never truly intended to name any of them as her primary heir, they conspired to poison her.

Each of them had a role to play.

But there was a fourth person.

One individual hesitated — and ultimately chose not to add the toxin.

Although the hostess was hospitalised with severe symptoms of poisoning, she survived.

Toxicology reports confirmed that she lived only because she had ingested 30 milligrams instead of the lethal dose of 40.

That fourth person was Silvan Rothe — identified by the gold watch on his wrist.

The same watch appeared on a receipt found in Agneta’s home.

The engraving read: “From your loving mother.”

The same words were used by Agneta herself in the cat camera recording.

Why Mr Rothe hesitated cannot be proven with certainty.

But his hesitation ultimately saved her life.

All suspects have now been identified.

Arrest warrants have been issued.

The file titled “The Hostess” is now closed.