Murder in the noble district: millionaire brutally murdered - who are the perpetrators?

Murder in the noble district: millionaire brutally murdered - who are the perpetrators?

In Cologne-Hahnwald, a well-known posh district, the police are currently chasing a shadow of the past. Phil Giesen, a 74-year-old millionaire and operator of the successful tanning salon chain **California Sun**, was found dead in his elegant villa on October 9, 2024. Giesen was not only a successful entrepreneur who opened his first tanning salon in 1979 and now operates over 44 branches worldwide, but also a wealthy man who led a respected life in the city. The shock of his violent death is deep, both among the neighbors and the investigators.

It was around 11 p.m. on the evening of October 8th when Giesen returned from a business trip. That evening he visited several tanning salons in Jülich and Kreuzau. While he was away, burglars gained access to his property. When he walked in the door there was a terrible confrontation. The perpetrators had already been in his house for three hours and apparently had time to break into a safe from which they stole several tens of thousands of euros in cash. Giesen was brutally tied up and beaten, which ultimately led to his death. The information comes from several investigative teams who have now set up a murder squad to investigate this heinous crime. [ZDF Today reports that ...](https://www.zdfheute.de/panorama/ criminalitaet/aktenzeichen-xy-juni-2025-millionaer-mord-koeln-100.html)

A tranquil neighborhood in shock

The crime occurred in a quiet and affluent residential area, adding to the shock of local residents. Neighbors report a persistent feeling of insecurity, particularly due to frequent break-ins in the area. A neighbor made it clear how much Giesen's death has affected the feeling of security in the neighborhood. The police have cordoned off the area around Giesen's villa while forensic investigators are meticulously searching for clues. Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger informs that...

Surveillance cameras in the neighborhood identified a dark vehicle, possibly a **1 Series BMW**, that was traveling in the area at the time of the crime. The perpetrators left footprints at the crime scene that may have come from brands such as Kappa, Nike or Sketchers. These actionable clues could be crucial in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The dark side of crime in Germany

What seems unimaginable to many is actually part of an alarming trend in crime in Germany. According to the police crime statistics (PKS) 2024, there was a decrease in overall crime of 1.7%, but the feeling of security of many citizens is still impaired. Burglaries and violent attacks in particular are among the most common crimes reported in the statistics. In fact, **crimes against life** such as murder and manslaughter account for only 0.1% of all cases, but their impact is enormous. Statista shows that...

In Cologne-Hahnwald, the question remains as to how safely residents will be able to live in the future as long as the perpetrators are at large. The police are urgently looking for witnesses who saw something at the time of the crime, especially on “Im Finkenhain” street. Information can be given by telephone or email. In order to promote awareness, a reward totaling 35,000 euros was offered for relevant information.