Unsolved discovery off Cala d’Or: The brutal death of a young German tourist in 1988

In the summer of 1988, the dismembered body of a 26-year-old German woman was recovered off Cala d’Or. Almost four decades later, many questions remain—and the island remembers a time it cannot let go.

A discovery that still resonates today

It was a hot July morning in 1988 when fishermen and bathers off Cala d’Or discovered something no one would expect in a holiday cove: the body of a young woman, severely mutilated. The images that later landed in archives show the brutal reality. Many here on the island still speak about it softly, sometimes over coffee, sometimes at the bar, when the topic comes up about dark chapters of the past.

What was known at the time

The woman was 26 years old and identified as German. A conspicuous mole on her back and an earring helped with identification. Investigators from the Guardia Civil noted unusual injuries: both arms were missing, the head was so severely injured that it seemed almost detached from the torso. Additionally, a witness reported observing a boat on that day that approached a bather unusually closely.

Just a few weeks earlier, at completely different parts of the island, two other women were recovered dead from the sea: one beheaded near Pollença, another in Peguera. Some later local reports also covered a body found in Cala Boadella near Lloret de Mar. Whether coincidence or connection – that remained unresolved. The files state that the injuries could be compatible with a ship's propeller. Therefore the case was officially recorded as an accident caused by a boat.

Conflicting questions

Many people locally were skeptical. How could such a brutal condition of the body arise solely from a collision with a propeller? Why was no suitable watercraft found, though witnesses saw a boat? And does this explanation fit the cases in Pollença and Peguera? The investigations left gaps, and files remained on file – without a final answer. Other puzzling island investigations have been reported, including an investigation at a finca near Llucmajor.

At the time, police and Guardia Civil intensified coast patrols. On normal summer days the sea was full of sailboats and excursion steamers; that summer, however, many residents felt a special tension. Some said they no longer sat at the harbor as carefree at night.

Why the case remains important today

It’s not just about an unsolved crime. It’s about remembering the victims, about questions of clarification and trust in investigations. Almost four decades later, such cases show how important thorough forensic preservation and persistent inquiries are. Tips from the public may move more today than then – DNA methods and modern forensics have advanced.

The island has changed: tourism, port operations and security measures are organized differently today. Yet the quiet plea of many residents remains: if you know something, speak up. Even small memories, a name, a observation from the summers before 1990 could open new avenues in the investigation. More recent reporting has also explored deaths raising wider concerns, for example the Son Macià case.

Facts in brief: Date found: July 1988. Location found: about one mile off Cala d’Or. Victim: 26-year-old German tourist. Official assessment at the time: accident caused by a ship's propeller. Status today: unsolved, files open.

If you have tips or see old photos that might be related to the case, contact the Guardia Civil. Some questions can only be answered with time and courage. The island does not forget, but it hopes for clarity.