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German court sentences 81-year-old to life for 1994 murder of U.S. tourist

Hans S. was convicted of the rape and stabbing death of Texas tourist Amy Lopez after new DNA matching cracked the 32-year cold case.

Updated Aug 28, 2026 · 16:20 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • An 81-year-old German man, identified as Hans S., was sentenced to life in prison by a court in Koblenz for the 1994 rape and murder of 24-year-old U.S. tourist Amy Lopez.
  • The cold case went unsolved for over three decades until investigators re-examined clothing evidence and matched a male DNA trace to a newly acquired saliva sample from the suspect.
  • The defense team does not plan to appeal the ruling, which includes a finding of "particular gravity of guilt" that restricts the defendant's eligibility for early release.

Key facts

  • Amy Lopez of Texas was found dead near the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz in September 1994 with severe head injuries, stab wounds, and signs of strangulation.[Deutsche Welle · CBS News]
  • The Koblenz regional court found that the defendant lured Lopez into a secluded area by falsely offering directions to a hostel before tying her up, raping her, and stabbing her nine times.[Deutsche Welle · CBS News]
  • The suspect had previous convictions for sexual offenses, including a 1999 attempted rape conviction, but his genetic data was later deleted from police files.[Deutsche Welle · CBS News]
  • Investigators solved the case after finding a male DNA trace on Lopez's clothing and obtaining a fresh saliva sample from the suspect, which matched the trace.[Deutsche Welle · CBS News]
  • The defendant was arrested at a Koblenz nursing home in February 2026 and confessed to the crime in general terms.[Deutsche Welle · CBS News]
  • Defense attorney Volker Klein stated that the defense does not intend to appeal or seek a review of the life sentence.[Deutsche Welle]

Sources