German Woman Arrested For Killing Lookalike To Fake Her Own Death

A German-Iraqi woman murdered her lookalike, whom she found on social media, to fake her own death. Police discovered the body of a 23-year-old woman with multiple stab wounds in a Mercedes car parked in the Bavarian town of Ingolstadt last August. Initially, the deceased was identified as Sharaban K, a 23-year-old Munich-based beautician with Iraqi roots.

Even after the deceased's family members identified her body, the autopsy report raised some questions regarding her identity. After further investigation, the deceased was identified as 23-year-old Khadidja O, an Algerian beauty blogger from Heilbronn who lived in the neighbouring state of Baden-Wurttemberg.

German Woman Killed Lookalike

With long black hair, similar complexions, and heavy make-up, the two women looked strikingly similar. The German press referred to the case as the "Doppelganger Murder."

The 23-year-old German Iraqi woman, Sharaban K, and a 23-year-old Kosovan man, identified as Sheqir K, were then arrested on suspicion by the Bavarian police on August 19, 2022. However, the authorities didn't publicly speculate on any motive until this week.

According to the investigator's statement on Monday, police believe that Sharaban K wanted to go into hiding due to family disputes and thus faked her own death.

According to the police, the accused had contacted several women through numerous aliases who resembled her on social media and attempted to lure them into meeting her by making false promises. But all those attempts were unsuccessful.

The accused, Sharaban K contacted the deceased, Khadidja O, in early August, and she arranged to meet with her over a cosmetics offer on August 16. Sharaban K and Sheqir K allegedly went to the deceased's house in Heilbronn, near Stuttgart, to pick her up. On the way back to Ingolstadt, the duo allegedly lured her out of the vehicle in a forest area and killed her by stabbing her multiple times.

A police spokesperson told the press that "the crime weapon has not been found yet, but the evidence is overwhelming. The deceased was killed with over 50 stabs, and the face was completely disfigured."

The prosecutors allege that the suspects then drove to Ingolstadt with the deceased in the backseat of the Mercedes car. They parked it in a quiet residential area by the banks of the Danube. The body was discovered by Sharaban K's parents before August 16, 2022, midnight.

The investigation is still ongoing, but arrest warrants for Sharaban K. and Sheqir K. were issued on January 6 and 7, 2023. The duo will face life sentences if convicted.

The deceased and accused are referred to by their first names according to the legal system in Germany.

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