Koblenz court nears verdict in 30-year-old Amy Lopez murder case

The decades-old murder of American tourist Amy Lopez is nearing a legal conclusion in Koblenz, Germany. Hans S., an 81-year-old man, has admitted to the killing during his trial at the Koblenz District Court.

Lopez, who was 24 at the time, was traveling through Europe when she was found dead near the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in September 1994. The case remained one of the region's most prominent unsolved mysteries for over 30 years.

A breakthrough occurred in early 2026 when investigators used modern DNA analysis to examine traces found on Lopez's clothing. The DNA matched Hans S., whose profile was already in a police database due to a 1999 conviction for attempted rape. Following a DNA match from a saliva sample taken in January 2026, the suspect was arrested at a nursing home.

Due to the defendant's confession, the trial has proceeded much faster than the originally planned eight days. The presiding judge, Rupert Stehlin, has already closed the evidentiary phase, and a verdict is expected as early as August 28, 2026.