A mysterious murder of a girl aged just 16 shook the whole of Germany over 100 years ago. On 14 May 1908, a forest worker found the body of a young girl in the Aachen Forest, in some bushes not far from the Siegel forester’s lodge; her skull had been smashed beyond recognition. Next to her lay a stone with hair and blood stuck to it. This had apparently been the murder weapon. The post-mortem revealed that the girl had been killed by multiple blows to the head and face with the stone. The body had already been lying in the forest for 10 to 14 days. A sexual offence could be ruled out. The body was identified as that of 16-year-old Laura Klinkenberg on the basis of her jewellery and a black mole on her finger. She was the youngest daughter of Johann J. Klinkenberg and his wife Theresia Vohs, who had died in 1904. Following the early death of her parents, Laura lived with her two brothers and her sister Rosa on the Crapoel estate in Walhorn, which had formerly been run by her father. Laura had been receiving treatment from a dentist in Aachen for some time. On 30 April 1908, she had another dental appointment, which is why she set off for Aachen that afternoon. Shortly after 8 pm, Laura was last seen alive by witnesses as she alighted from the Kleinbein tram at the Kettenis stop, coming from Aachen, to walk home through the Walhorn fields towards the Krapoler Wäldchen, where she encountered her murderer. As 50 marks were missing, the police assumed it was a robbery-murder. The public prosecutor’s office offered a reward of 1,000 marks, which was later increased to 3,000 marks for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator. However, there were no leads whatsoever regarding Laura’s murderer until, eight months later, a prisoner at the detention centre in Haarlem, in the Dutch province of North Holland, confessed to the murder completely out of the blue. This man was August Cherié, who described the murder in great detail, which is why the police believed him to be Laura’s murderer. However, before he could be extradited to Aachen, he died in April 1910 in Haarlem prison. Today, a memorial stone in the Aachen Forest, where she was once brutally murdered, commemorates Laura Klinkenberg. It was erected on 7 April 2013 with the inscription: ‘Pray for the soul of Laura Klinkenberg from Walhorn, aged 16, who was found murdered here on 14 May 1908’.
Welcome to my journey through creativity and discovery! My name is Isabella Mueller, and I invite you to explore the fascinating creative universes I create through my blogs. Since 2020, I have been dedicating my passion to telling captivating stories that are mysterious, historical, and emotional. My goal is not only to entertain, but also to inspire reflection and awaken the spirit of discovery in each of us. At isabellas.blog, the suspense of crime stories is combined with exciting travel tips. Imagine wandering through the picturesque streets of a new city, uncovering dark secrets hidden in the shadows of its history. Every piece on my blog is designed to make the heart of every crime fiction fan beat faster while sparking curiosity about unknown places. Here, you are invited to experience the thrill of the unknown and the beauty of our world—a perfect combination for all adventure seekers! My second blog, akteq.com, is all about true, unsolved crime stories. Under the motto “akteQ: Cold Case Stories,” I reveal the eerie and often tragic stories behind unsolved cases. Together, we can explore the mysteries of the past and delve deep into the human psyche. What really happened? Who were the people behind these mysterious events? In this blog, I invite you to ask questions and find the answers that often remain hidden in the dark. You can find another exciting chapter in my blogging career at thecastles.org. Here, I embark on an enchanting journey through the history of castles and palaces. Pause for a moment as you discover the stories hidden within the walls of these ancient structures. “Explore the enchantment, discover the history – your journey begins at thecastles.org!” These words are more than just a slogan; they are an invitation to anyone who wants to combine history and magic. Be inspired by the impressive stories and the fascination of bygone eras! But that's not all! At kripo.org, you'll find a comprehensive online magazine for real criminal cases. Immerse yourself in the world of crime, learn about the real stories behind the headlines and the people who are involved in solving them. With criminal.energy, I take you on a journey through the gripping stories of true crimes in which villains are hunted, caught, and convicted. The search for justice and the confrontation with the unknown are at the center of it all. TrueCrime Blog 187.news takes you into the depths of crime. And for those who want to travel the world, wanderlust.plus offers the opportunity to explore the world, one adventure at a time. It's all about the love of exploration and the joy of discovering new cultures and landscapes. Finally, truecrime.ch invites you to discover the dark side of Switzerland and Europe: true crimes, true stories. Let's discover together the stories that shape the world around us. I look forward to accompanying you on this exciting journey and hope you will share many unforgettable moments with me!
Isabella Mueller (crime writer)
