'Dig Deeper: The Disappearance of Birgit Meier': The true story behind her vanishing

The series follows the disappearance of a 40-year-old Meier from her Breitling apartment and it has been 31 years since the case saw a conclusion
UPDATED NOV 26, 2021
 A photograph of Birgit Meier from 'Dig Deeper' (Netflix)
A photograph of Birgit Meier from 'Dig Deeper' (Netflix)

Over the years, Netflix has released some scintillating and bone-chilling documentaries and the latest one in the offing is titled 'Dig Deeper: The Disappearance of Birgit Meier'. The series follows the mysterious disappearance of a 40-year-old Meier from her Breitling apartment and it has been 31 years since the case saw any definitive conclusion.

The official synopsis of the series reads: "Birgit Meier disappears, but the police have other concerns. Only Wolfgang Sielaff - her brother and himself a police detective - suspects that she is the victim of a brutal crime. The search of a suspect's house brings some gruesome things to light." According to The Sun, Meier was a photographer and was married to Harald, a successful entrepreneur.

RELATED ARTICLES

'Catching Killers': 5 things to know about the Netflix true-crime series

Netflix 'The Motive': Why did a 14-year-old butcher his entire family?

He was one of the key suspects before being ruled out. Lack of evidence and concrete leads saw the case go cold. However, there were quite a few details that emerged during the investigation. Meier was going through a divorce and Harald was meant to show up to clarify details about their split during the evening of her disappearance. It was agreed that she should receive 500,000 DM as a settlement from her husband.

When did Birgit Meier disappear?

Meier vanished into thin air on August 14, 1989 from Lüneburg, Germany. The case saw the light only after 28 years when her brother, Wolfgang Sielaff, a policeman began search on his own terms. Her remains were discovered in 2017 under the concrete floor of a garage in a house located in the outskirts of Lüneburg. Autopsy reports revealed that she was shot and the police president, Robert Kruse stated that the murderer was a serial killer whose work would have "seen past Germany".

Prior to the discovery, the authorities were under the impression that Meier has committed suicide or was killed by Harald until they began investigating the gardener, Kurt-Werner Wichmann. It was under the garage of his house that her remains were unearthed. It was reported that she and Wichmann had met at a birthday party weeks before she disappeared, but he was never questioned.

Although she disappeared in '89, police found more details and alarming discoveries when they searched his house to find weapons, sedatives, and a torture room. With the attention on him, the green-thumb suspect hung himself while in police custody.

The Netflix documentary comprises of four episodes and is streaming on Netflix.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

The 'All's Fair' Season 1 finale blew the firm wide open, and now the cast teases a season 2 filled with bigger betrayals and shocking returns
2 minutes ago
Based on some of hockey’s most iconic rivalries, ‘Heated Rivalry’ adds a love story that didn’t actually happen
5 minutes ago
The ninth episode of 'All’s Fair' delivered one of the most shocking moments of the series with the arrest of a trusted member of the legal firm
32 minutes ago
A shocking confirmation from a former Slayer, Eliza Dushku, alters everything we expected from the Buffy revival.
1 hour ago
Based on the popular 'Tomb Raider' video games, the upcoming series stars Sophie Turner as Lara Croft
3 hours ago
Omar Sy has described his character as "an extraordinary plaything" that he enjoys every time he steps into the role
3 hours ago
Carol’s fate may hinge on a chilling loophole that could let the hive convert her without ever touching her body
3 hours ago
A few cast members have confirmed their exit from the series, explaining why they won't return
13 hours ago
The British mystery series is the latest adaptation based on the pages of Andrew Lane's book series
15 hours ago
Netflix released a poster featuring the key cast members ahead of the show's Vol. 2 premiere
17 hours ago