Stade Shooting: Expert Warns of Lifelong Burden for Perpetrator's Child

The profound and lasting psychological impact on the child of the man accused of killing six people in Stade, Germany, is a critical, yet often overlooked, consequence of such tragedies, according to Selin Arikoglu, a professor of social work. "He will carry this burden his entire life," Arikoglu stated, emphasizing the immense psychological weight the child will bear knowing their father committed mass murder.

“

He will carry this burden his entire life.

Arikoglu also pointed to the two young children of a murdered social worker, who are now orphaned. She stressed the importance of extending support not only to the victims' families but also to the perpetrator's family. This support, she argued, must include therapeutic intervention and close collaboration among institutions like youth welfare services, schools, and counseling centers.

The 45-year-old suspect allegedly killed six people in June at a mother-and-child facility in Stade. The victims included three staff members from the Hannover Youth Welfare Office and three from the facility itself. Reports suggest a custody dispute over the suspect's three-month-old daughter was the motive. The suspect died in prison.

“

How does this child grow up knowing that his father killed six people?

Arikoglu warned that the child will inevitably confront the reality of their father's crimes through media reports, likely during adolescence. Drawing on a study of children with incarcerated parents, she described the long-term suffering, including post-traumatic stress disorder, shame, guilt, isolation, and stigmatization, experienced by a young woman whose father was repeatedly imprisoned. Arikoglu criticized the scarcity of support services, noting that the focus within prisons is primarily on the inmates themselves, not their families.

“

We must pay more attention to the relatives of the victims and also those of the perpetrators.

She further elaborated on the detrimental effects of prison visits, where children encounter uniformed personnel, potentially fostering fear of law enforcement. Instead, these children require guidance, clear explanations, and reassurance that they are not alone, Arikoglu concluded.

“

At the latest in adolescence, the child will be confronted with this through media reports.