Lübeck Public Prosecutor’s Office and Ratzeburg Police Directorate are investigating a serious incident in Großensee in the Stormarn district. On 9 November 2026, emergency responders found a detached house where a 55-year-old woman was dead and her 23-year-old daughter seriously injured. According to the authorities’ initial account, the younger woman was attacked by two dogs; police found her mother lifeless on the upper floor.
Investigators had the body seized and applied to the forensic medicine department a autopsyto establish the exact cause of death. The injuries known about so far could point to a confrontation with the animals, the Lübeck Public Prosecutor’s Office and Ratzeburg Police Directorate said in a statement on 10 November 2026. The Ahrensburg Criminal Investigation Department is conducting the further investigation.
The two dogs were secured at the scene. According to the authorities, the responsible local regulatory authority ordered the injured animals to be put down at the scene. Investigators gave no information about their breed, ownership or any previous incidents involving them.
The investigation is focused on establishing whether the 55-year-old’s fatal injuries were caused by dog bites or whether other factors played a role. Forensic work is also being carried out at the house, and witnesses are being interviewed. The authorities currently have no evidence that a third party was involved; however, a definitive finding will only be possible once the post-mortem results are available.
From a legal perspective, investigators are examining whether the incident gives grounds for criminal or regulatory action. In Schleswig-Holstein, decisions on restrictions on keeping animals or classifying them as dangerous are the responsibility of local regulatory authorities and depend on the assessed level of risk. The authorities have so far announced no specific measures beyond putting the animals down immediately.
The incident in Großensee has caused considerable concern in the region. The investigating authorities stressed that speculation should be avoided and that the results of the post-mortem and other investigations should be awaited. They gave no information about the 23-year-old’s condition, citing the need to protect her privacy. The Lübeck Public Prosecutor’s Office and Ratzeburg Police Directorate intend to provide further information once reliable findings are available.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).