Murder of the Sun King”: New clues after ZDF broadcast!

Murder of the Sun King”: New clues after ZDF broadcast!

It's a quiet morning in Cologne, but memories of a shocking murder are keeping the city on tenterhooks. On October 9, 2024, Phil Giesen, known as the “Sun King” and founder of the “California Sun” tanning salon chain, was found dead in his villa in the Hahnwald district of Cologne. The 74-year-old was a victim of brutal violence; The cause of death was massive violence, resulting from punches and kicks to his chest. These tragic circumstances have now been dealt with in the popular ZDF program “Aktenzeichen XY”, which was broadcast on June 25, 2025 and promises new information about the case.

Giesen, who was known for his luxurious life and driving expensive cars, was found dead by an employee when he had an appointment with him. The police believe there were several perpetrators who broke into the villa via a neighboring property while Giesen was driving on the evening of October 8, 2024. When he returned around 11 p.m. there was a confrontation with the burglars, who tied him up and finally brutally beat him. The perpetrators stayed in the house for over three hours. A violently opened safe and the theft of cash and valuables, including several thousand two-euro coins, were seized as evidence.

Investigation results and new information

The investigation into the Giesen case made no significant progress until “Aktenzeichen XY” was broadcast. Despite an intensive search for clues and the evaluation of surveillance cameras, the police were initially unable to find any clear evidence of the perpetrators. However, suspicious movements of a dark car, possibly a BMW 1 or 3 Series, were recorded in the neighborhood. After the program was broadcast, the Cologne police received around 100 tips, around 80 to 90 percent of which related to the victim's black leather jacket, which was also stolen. The Cologne police hope that the program will provide important clues to clarify this murder case.

In total, sole prints from two different shoes were found at the crime scene, which may have come from brands such as Kappa, Nike or Fila. A reward totaling 35,000 euros was offered for crucial information in solving the crime. The police published this information through their channels to encourage witnesses to come forward. Anyone interested can contact the Cologne Police Department on 0221 / 22 90.

A well-known face on the ZDF show

In an interesting twist, Nick Wilder, a former star of the ZDF series “Traumschiff,” plays the role of murder victim Giesen in the show. Wilder, 72, lives in Helena, Montana, and returned to Germany to film. His participation in the format is intended to draw attention to the case and possibly lead to new clues that can help solve the crime.

The dynamics of the case demonstrate not only the headlines it made in Cologne, but also the ongoing challenges facing the police. According to the current police crime statistics, there are a large number of crimes in Cologne that affect citizens. Given the seriousness of Phil Giesen's murder case, the hope for a quick resolution is particularly important for many in the city.

Finally, it is to be hoped that the new information and media appearances will help solve the case and that Giesen's family will soon find peace again. Anyone who has seen or heard anything is asked to come forward immediately.