Stuff You Should Know

SYSK’s Fall True Crime Playlist: The Hinterkaifeck Axe Murders

September 26, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The episode of **Stuff You Should Know**, **SYSK’s Fall True Crime Playlist: The Hinterkaifeck Axe Murders**, introduces the bizarre 1922 unsolved murder of the Gruber family and their maid on a Bavarian farm. 
  • Prior to the murders, the farm was already associated with strange occurrences, including the previous maid quitting due to hauntings and the discovery of mysterious footprints leading to the house with none leading away. 
  • The initial investigation ruled out simple robbery as a motive because significant valuables were left untouched, and the discovery that the victims were cared for (fed, chimney smoking) for several days *after* the estimated time of death suggests the killer remained on the property post-homicide. 

Segments

Playlist Introduction and Context
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The Stuff You Should Know episode is part of a fall true crime playlist featuring unsolved mysteries, specifically highlighting the grisly 1922 Bavarian farm murders.
  • Summary: The episode kicks off a true crime playlist, setting the stage for the story of a family murdered on their farm in Bavaria in 1922. The hosts mention other true crime episodes available, such as those covering the Yuba County 5 and the body on Somerton Beach. The case is described as having bizarre twists and remaining genuinely unsolved.
Pronunciation and Location Setup
Copied to clipboard!
(00:02:57)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts struggle with the German pronunciation of the location, Hinterkaifeck, which is situated near the towns of Ingolstadt and Schrobenhausen in Bavaria.
  • Summary: The hosts spend time attempting to correctly pronounce the location name, Hinterkaifeck, and the name of the family involved. The farm, Hinterkaifeck, was located slightly outside the village of Kaifek in the Bavarian hinterland. The story is set in 1922.
The Gruber Family Members
Copied to clipboard!
(00:05:37)
  • Key Takeaway: The family residing at the farm consisted of Andreas Gruber, his wife Tatzilia, their daughter Victoria (widowed), granddaughter Tzerzilia, and two-year-old grandson Joseph.
  • Summary: The family members are identified, including Andreas Gruber, his wife Tatzilia, and their daughter Victoria, who was widowed and living there with her young son, Joseph. There is confusion and discussion over the correct German pronunciation of the names, particularly Tatzilia and her daughter, Tzerzilia. The family was reportedly disliked in town, partly due to rumors of incest involving Andreas and Victoria regarding Joseph’s parentage.
Pre-Murder Ominous Signs
Copied to clipboard!
(00:10:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Prior to the murders, the farm was plagued by unsettling events, including the maid quitting due to hearing footsteps in the attic and the discovery of footprints leading to the house but not away from it in the snow.
  • Summary: The previous maid abruptly quit, citing the house being haunted with noises and footsteps in the attic. Later, Andreas Gruber found a single set of human footprints in the snow leading directly to the house, but no tracks leading away, suggesting an intruder remained hidden. Further unsettling events included missing keys and a strange, unexpected newspaper appearing on the porch.
Discovery of the Six Victims
Copied to clipboard!
(00:20:20)
  • Key Takeaway: The six victims—the Gruber family members and the new maid, Maria Baumgartner—were discovered on April 4, 1922, having been killed on March 31st, with the killer seemingly staying on the farm afterward.
  • Summary: The new maid, Maria Baumgartner, arrived on March 31st, which was the last confirmed day anyone in the family was seen alive. When neighbors checked on them days later, they found four bodies (Andreas, Victoria, Tzerzilia, and the grandmother Tatzilia) stacked and covered with hay in the barn, while the maid and young Joseph were found dead inside the house. The murder weapon was determined to be a mattock, and the grandmother showed signs of having survived for hours, pulling out her own hair.
Post-Mortem Anomaly and Suspects
Copied to clipboard!
(00:27:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Evidence suggested the killer remained on the property for several days after the murders, as smoke was seen, livestock were fed, and the house showed signs of recent use, contradicting the estimated time of death.
  • Summary: Neighbors noted smoke from the chimney and well-cared-for livestock for days after the estimated date of death (March 31st), implying the murderer stayed on the farm. The primary living suspect identified is the neighboring man, Lorenz Schlittenbauer, who had a motive related to paternity claims for Joseph and exhibited suspicious behavior at the crime scene. Another suspect considered, though dismissed, was Victoria’s presumed-dead WWI husband, Carl Gabriel.
Investigation Failures and Modern Review
Copied to clipboard!
(00:42:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The official investigation interviewed over 100 suspects, but crucial forensic evidence, including the victims’ skulls, was lost, leading modern police academy students to conclude the case is unsolvable but likely points to the neighbor.
  • Summary: The Munich police handled the case for decades, even having the skulls analyzed by a clairvoyant before the heads were lost, possibly during WWII bombings. Students from the Furstenfeldbruck Police Academy reviewed the case in 2007, concluding it was likely committed by the neighbor, Lorenz Schlittenbauer, but that proof was impossible to obtain. The case remains one of Germany’s most famous unsolved mysteries.
Listener Mail Segment
Copied to clipboard!
(00:48:04)
  • Key Takeaway: A listener shared a personal anecdote about shooting a squirrel that did not die immediately, leading to a commitment to animal welfare through a candle company.
  • Summary: A listener recounted a traumatic childhood experience where a squirrel they shot with a pellet gun did not die instantly, forcing them to skin and eat it alive, which ended their desire to hunt for sport. The listener now runs a dog-themed candle company that donates 10% of profits to animal shelters and rescues.