Burglar killed on dirt road: Police shoot short film to solve cold case

Burglar killed on dirt road
Police shoot short film to solve cold case

10.09.2024, 10:40 a.m.

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28 years ago, hunters found a burglar shot dead next to a stolen car in Dümmerlohausen, Lower Saxony. The case cannot be solved. With the help of a short film, the investigators hope to receive crucial information from the public.

Investigators have made a short film to solve a murder case that occurred in August 1996 in northern Germany. The film shows details of the murder that have not been made public until now and is intended to increase awareness of the case, according to police and prosecutors. The crime occurred in Dümmerlohausen near Lake Dümmer.

According to reports, Jäger found the body of Nenad Gajanovic, who was 35 at the time, next to a stolen red VW Golf. The victim was murdered with several shots. Gajanovic, nicknamed Gajo, lived in Hamburg and began burglaries in northern Germany. The homicide squad assumes that the victim has close contacts with internationally organized crime. The case has not been solved to this day.

New homicide squad

In 2019, the case was investigated as part of a review of unsolved cases. New analysis methods and their results then led to the resumption of the investigation and the establishment of the “Gajo 96” homicide squad in 2024. Part of the investigation is the short film, which can be seen on the Cloppenburg/Vechta police website, among other places.

The film provides insights into the murder case using original photos and excerpts from the investigation file. This is a first, the investigators said. It shows how cruel and insidious the crime was. The film therefore comes with a corresponding warning.

A reward of 5,000 euros has been offered for information that leads to the solution of the case and the arrest of the perpetrator. A tip portal has also been set up for this purpose. The investigators have also encouraged citizens to actively participate in the investigation, for example by sharing posts on social media. The authorities have also set up #gajo96 as a keyword – also known as a hashtag – to collect posts on the various platforms.