Mayor Stabbed 13 Times Says Adopted Teenage Daughter Was the Attacker

A newly elected German mayor is fighting for her life after a brutal stabbing that authorities now believe was carried out by someone shockingly close to her — her own adopted daughter.

Iris Stalzer, mayor-elect of the small town of Herdecke in Germany’s Ruhr region, was found critically injured in her home on Tuesday, October 7. She had been set to officially take office in November.

At first, the story appeared to be a terrifying but random act of violence. The mayor’s 17-year-old adopted daughter called the police shortly after noon, claiming her mother had been attacked by several men outside the home in an attempted robbery.

But when emergency crews arrived, they discovered something far more disturbing.

Stalzer was found inside, bleeding heavily and barely conscious, slumped in an armchair in the living room. She had been stabbed 13 times in the stomach and back. She also suffered fractured bones in her skull and multiple large bruises.

Paramedics airlifted her to a nearby hospital where doctors discovered even more alarming injuries — signs she had endured a prolonged and violent assault.

According to German media reports, including Bild and Sueddeutsche Zeitung, police say Iris later identified her adopted daughter as the attacker, claiming she had been tortured for hours in the basement before she managed to escape to the main floor.

She told investigators she had been stabbed with two knives and that her daughter tried to set her on fire using a can of deodorant and a lighter. Police have since recovered both a knife and blood-soaked clothing during a search of the home.

In a disturbing twist, those items were reportedly found stuffed inside a bag belonging to Iris’s 15-year-old adopted son. While authorities are not saying yet whether he was involved in the attack, investigators noted that someone had tried to clean up the crime scene, wiping away blood from around the armchair where Stalzer was found.

Although a motive hasn’t been officially confirmed, several reports point to growing tensions within the family in recent months. Sources say there had been earlier arguments between Iris and her daughter, including at least one confrontation that involved a knife. There were also signs of friction between the mayor and her adopted son.

The daughter is not currently in police custody. Instead, both children have been placed under the care of youth protective services as the investigation continues.

Due to the fact that the daughter was the one who called emergency services, prosecutors are — at least for now — treating the case as grievous bodily harm rather than attempted murder, though that could change based on new evidence.

The attack has stunned residents of Herdecke, a quiet town of around 23,000 people located in Germany’s heavily populated Ruhr region. Known for its scenic views and peaceful neighborhoods, Herdecke is not the kind of place where violent crime typically makes headlines — let alone a possible case of attempted matricide.

Stalzer, a political newcomer, had just recently been elected mayor and was set to bring a fresh perspective to city leadership. Her condition remains critical but stable, according to hospital officials.

Local and national law enforcement agencies are continuing their investigation, including a deep dive into the family’s background and the mental health history of the adopted daughter.

For now, the community is left with more questions than answers. How did this level of violence escalate inside a household headed by a public figure? Were there missed red flags? And how could a 17-year-old girl allegedly commit such a gruesome act against her adoptive mother?

As of this writing, no criminal charges have been officially filed, but that’s expected to change as more forensic evidence is reviewed and interviews with both teens are completed.

This is a developing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.