A young woman is found strangled in her apartment. The police in Flensburg investigate. Jana Winter and her team notice one detail in particular.
The murder weapon was obviously a red rope used in sailing. This reveals parallels to an old case: The perpetrator, Jan Littkovski, a former boat builder, is still behind bars, but at the time of the crime he was on day release.
In addition, Doreen Hahn, his fiancée, lives in the immediate vicinity of the murder victim.
Doreen Hahn, who had met Littkovski through a pen pal relationship, gave the suspect an alibi: Littkovski had been with her all evening. Besides, he was about to be released from prison. Why would he risk his freedom so close to release?
The investigators come across another pen pal. But this woman also believes in Littkovski’s innocence and shows Commissioner Hamm his letters. Is this how a murderer writes? They are the most intense letters she has ever received. A woman “on the outside” could only dream of such things.
The two women become more and more entangled in inconsistencies. The alibi finally turns out to be a lie.
But Jana Winter continues to investigate unswervingly in all directions.
Photos: ZDF/ Sandra Hoever