"Beast from Favoriten"

DNA test: women’s murders solved after 12 years

Murderer Herbert Petsch has been in prison for over two decades - psychiatrists still consider him dangerous.(Bild: Andi Schiel)

It took 12 years to solve one of the most spectacular mysteries in Viennese criminal history at the time: the murder of 20-year-old sales clerk Alexandra Schriefl. In "Krone" Crime, Ernst Geiger - the head of the investigation at the time - recalls the case.

The night of October 26, 1988 is bitterly cold, the temperature has dropped almost to freezing point for the first time that year. Despite this, many people are out and about in Vienna, taking advantage of the evening before the national holiday to stay out late. The "Azzuro" discotheque in Vienna-Favoriten is also buzzing.

It's the area south of the Verteilerkreis and the Per-Albin-Hansson estate, where the sea of houses is interrupted by green spaces and the built-up area slowly turns into cornfields.

"Krone" Crime Magazine

This article appeared in the "Krone" crime magazine and is now available to digital subscribers .

Not yet a Premium subscriber? Then get your subscription here and read all "Krone" crime magazines online.

A merry group of ladies have a great time in a pub that no longer exists. Among them: Alexandra Schriefl, a 20-year-old sales clerk. At 1.80 meters tall, Alex, as everyone calls her, is a striking figure: beautiful and very tall.