Murder of Inga Maria Hauser - 20th Anniversary Appeal
17 Apr 2008
Detectives investigating the murder of Inga Maria Hauser, a German backpacker whose body was found in Ballypatrick Forest in North Antrim 20 years ago, today announced new developments in the case and renewed their appeal for assistance from the local community.
18-year old Inga Maria travelled to Northern Ireland on 6 April 1988, arriving in Larne on a ferry from Scotland. Her body was discovered in a remote part of Ballypatrick Forest on the outskirts of Ballycastle on 20 April 1988. Police believe that Inga Maria died shortly after she arrived in Northern Ireland. Inga Maria had been subjected to a vicious and ruthless assault.
The officer in charge of the case, Detective Superintendent Raymond Murray, said a significant line of enquiry in the investigation was now directed on people who had a particular knowledge of the part of the forest where Inga Maria's body was discovered.
D/Superintendent Murray said: "On the 20th anniversary of Inga Maria's murder, police are publishing a map of the precise location where her body was found and a photograph of this location.
"Out inquiries lead us to believe that whoever killed Inga Maria and left her body in Ballypatrick Forest was familiar with that particular remote part of the forest.
"We need to talk to anyone who would have had such a knowledge prior to April 1988, whether through their work, or if they rented forestry plots there or had any interest in that area."
The area where Inga's body was found is in the most western corner of Ballypatrick Forest approximately 2½ miles from the Glenmakeeran Road. This location is well off the main scenic drive through the forest which is used by the general public.
Advice has been obtained from both behavioural and geographical profilers who agree that the person responsible is likely to have been familiar with this specific location. This is very significant as the location is so remote and was not used by the general public. This location is known to have been used at the time by persons who rented forestry plots. Also working in this area were Forestry Service employees and sub-contract labourers. It is also known that the forest was used by turf cutters who had turbary rights. Police want all such persons to now come forward and speak to them.
D/Superintendent Murray said: "There have been significant scientific advances in recent years in criminal investigation and detectives from the PSNI's Serious Crime Branch are using a number of processes to further our inquiries.
"We believe an important seam of information for this investigation lies within a small group of people who had a detailed knowledge of the area of forest where Inga Maria's body was found. We need those people to come forward and talk to us. All such persons are asked to come forward regardless of whether or not they feel they can help. It is vital that such persons come forward and speak to police regardless of whether or not they were spoken to by police during the original enquiry in 1988."
Police say the local community has responded positively to the ongoing investigation. For example, hundreds of people have voluntarily supplied DNA samples to detectives, with a police undertaking that the data is confined to this specific investigation.
D/Superintendent Murray said: "This investigation is active and it is progressing. Our focus now is on those people who knew that part of Ballypatrick Forest 20 years ago. We need them, or anyone who knows of them, to come forward.
"Inga Maria was a young woman with her whole life in front of her who met a terrible death in Northern Ireland. We owe it to her memory and to her parents back in Germany to bring her killer to justice. I believe a specific group of people with knowledge of Ballypatrick Forest can help us. I would ask them to do the right thing and contact the Incident Room at Ballycastle PSNI Station, telephone 028 7035 0945 or 0845 600 8000 or use the anonymous Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111."
