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National
Photo: DPA

'House of doom' sees nine die in 15 years

Published: 28 Jan 13 11:12 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20130128-47601.html

A building in the leafy suburbs of Berlin has been dubbed the house of doom after it emerged that nine people died unnatural deaths there in the last 15 years. Tabloid newspaper Bild dug up the details.

Built just 25 years ago in the Gatow district of Spandau, the large house has been home to a brothel owner who ended up decapitated, the suicide pact of a British journalist and his lover, and the murder-suicide of an entire family.

The most recent was scientist Lorin W., who earlier this month bumped his car into the vehicle in front at the traffic lights. When the driver rang the police, the Siemens employee tore off onto the motorway, where he lost control at a speed of 200kph and died in the crash.

But Lorin W. was not the first to meet his maker in a nasty accident. A brothel owner who was renting the top floor apartment was decapitated while flying down the nearby Autobahn on his motorbike in 2003.

Summer 2012 and Berlin police were called to the building's maisonette apartment, where they found the bodies of 69-year-old Kristian B., his wife Kathrin, 28, and their two sons aged six and three.

The debt-riddled asset consultant had suffocated them all before killing himself with a plastic bag. He had previously given up his infant daughter into a baby hatch.

Officers also found the bodies of British journalist John D. and his partner Jörg K, the pair both had advanced stage AIDS and decided to commit suicide together.

Another suicide rocked the house in 2000, when a Dutch man taped up all of his doors and windows, lit a barbecue and died shortly after of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The Local/jcw

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

13:43 January 28, 2013 by hech54
This article makes no sense.

"bumped his car into the vehicle in front at the traffic lights" - What?

"He had previously given up his infant daughter into a baby hatch." - What is a baby hatch?
14:52 January 28, 2013 by Tron McFinger
Approaching a (presumably) red light an intersection, the driver didn't stop in time and bumped the car in front which was already stopped at the lights.

And try googling ;-)

A baby hatch is a place where mothers can bring their babies, usually newborn, and leave them anonymously in a safe place to be found and cared for.
16:19 January 28, 2013 by Englishted
@ hech54

It makes sense :

He crashed his car into the car in front and sped away maybe he had no insurance or no license .

and as @Tron McFinger says is correct but he forgot to say they are "normally" located by hospitals.
01:15 January 29, 2013 by DOZ
A Tenant probably killed, or tried, to kill a child and now no souls are able to enter the building. Turn it into an Embassy for one of the NATO Countries, since they also have no soul.
03:13 January 29, 2013 by lenny van
"bumped his car into the vehicle in front at the traffic lights" - What?

That's very easy to explain. He had a rental car from the ADAC and he knew that if there was even a 5 cm. scratch on the bumper and he didn't have the full insurance on the car at some exorbitant rate, he would be charged € 500.

I actually had that experience. When I objected and refused to give up the car key, I was forced out of the out of the rental office into a very severe thunderstorm. I am 75 years old and have a problem walking. I tried calling the police for help, but the rain was so hard that it ruined my I-phone.

Unfortunately, this is how Germans treat people. I called the ADAC customer service representative before I made my way 45 minute way home on public transportation in my soaked clothes, but he wasn't interested.
11:45 January 29, 2013 by Firmino
They must be selling it dirt cheap so...
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