Bio

Dieter Riechmann was born on May 17, 1944, in Germany. He had a life companion named Kersten Kischnick, and they were together for about 13 years. In October 1987, they traveled to Florida for a vacation. They had spent almost a month exploring the Southeastern United States and had recently returned to Miami.

During their time in Florida, Riechmann and Kischnick stayed in various places, including a rental unit. Both of them were German nationals, and Kischnick worked as a prostitute in Germany, where prostitution was legal. Their life together involved a mix of personal and business matters, as they shared responsibilities in their relationship.

While vacationing in Miami, Riechmann and Kischnick enjoyed dining at local restaurants and sightseeing. They were known to have shared many drinks during their meals. The trip was supposed to be a time of relaxation before they headed back to Germany. Sadly, their vacation ended tragically.

On the night of October 25, 1987, while sitting in their rental car, an incident occurred that would change everything. After dining out, they experienced difficulty finding their way back to their hotel. Riechmann parked the car to ask someone for directions. This was the night when Kischnick was shot.

Riechmann immediately contacted the police for help after the incident. In the days following, he became involved with various legal issues, including a federal gun charge related to firearms found in his motel room. Although he was released from the federal charge later, he was once again apprehended by Miami police and charged with murder.

Murder Story

On October 25, 1987, in Miami Beach, Florida, Dieter Riechmann shot and killed Kersten Kischnick, who was sitting in the passenger seat of their rental car. Riechmann claimed that they had pulled over to ask for directions when a stranger shot Kischnick. He said he drove around looking for help. However, he could not give clear details about the incident.

Riechmann and Kischnick had traveled from Germany and had been together for 13 years. After the shooting, Riechmann contacted the police. He was initially arrested for a minor federal gun charge but was released in December 1987. Shortly after that, he was rearrested and charged with murder.

The prosecution argued that Riechmann had killed Kischnick for financial gain. He had taken out over $961,000 in life insurance policies on her. The policies included clauses that allowed him to collect money even if she was murdered. They also noted that Riechmann had served as Kischnick's pimp and killed her when she wanted to stop her work as a prostitute.

During the investigation, police found firearms in Riechmann's motel room. Forensic experts determined that the bullet that killed Kischnick matched the type of bullets found with Riechmann's guns. Gunpowder residue was also found on Riechmann's hands. A blood analysis showed that the blood pattern in the car could not have occurred if Riechmann had been in the driver’s seat.

In January 1988, Riechmann was indicted for first-degree murder and felony use of a firearm. By August, he was found guilty of both charges. The jury recommended the death penalty, and Riechmann was sentenced to death on November 4, 1988.

Riechmann maintained his innocence and appealed multiple times. His case went through several legal reviews, and a judge ultimately ordered a new sentencing hearing in 1996 due to issues with ineffective counsel and improper communication during his initial trial. In 2000, witnesses testified that they had seen a stranger approach Riechmann's car just before the shooting. An investigation later revealed that another man, Mark Dugen, confessed to being the shooter.

Riechmann's legal struggles continued as he sought a new trial based on this new evidence. Despite ongoing appeals and claims of his innocence, his conviction remained upheld by the Florida Supreme Court.