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Family tragedy in Cape Verde: son kills parents and sister on vacation!
Three Germans were murdered while on vacation in Cape Verde. The suspect is the 19-year-old son, who is said to be mentally ill.
Family tragedy in Cape Verde: son kills parents and sister on vacation!
On February 2, 2026, the dramatic circumstances surrounding the murder of a German family in Cape Verde caused nationwide horror. The crime took place on December 23rd in a holiday apartment on the island of São Vicente, where the family's 19-year-old son is suspected of killing his father, stepmother and stepsister. The victims are the 58-year-old father, the 45-year-old stepmother and the 20-year-old stepsister.
According to reports, the stepmother sent a cry for help via WhatsApp to relatives in Germany. The message, sent on December 13, contained the alarming text: “He’s going to kill us all here!” This urgency led relatives to attempt to reach the family by telephone, but was unsuccessful. They then informed the police, who were subsequently criticized for reacting too late.
Suspect escapes
After the alleged crime, the 19-year-old fled to the Portuguese capital Lisbon, where he was arrested in a hotel two days later, on December 25th. He was extradited to Germany at the request of the Trier public prosecutor's office and is currently in custody at the Wittlich correctional facility.
The Trier public prosecutor's office is investigating three cases on suspicion of manslaughter. However, the investigation is complex because, according to Portuguese police, the 19-year-old suspect suffers from mental disorders. Further details about possible motives or the exact course of events were withheld for the time being for tactical reasons.
Social impact
The murder case not only raises questions about holiday safety, but also highlights the challenges many families face when dealing with mental illness. In recent years there has been an increase in violent crime, which is often committed by people with mental health problems, which has increased the social debate about appropriate help and prevention offers.
It remains to be hoped that the investigations into this tragic case will lead to clarification and at the same time provide impetus for important social discussions, particularly with regard to how to deal with mental illnesses and their effects on the family.
For further information on the crime and the ongoing investigation, we refer to the reporting by Mercury and RTL.