In this episode Johanna takes us to the quiet, rural landscapes of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, to tell you about the tragic case of Robert Syrokowski. On a freezing December night in 2002, 18-year-old Robert disappeared after leaving a nightclub and was later found dead, struck by a car in the middle of a desolate road. But this was no mere accident—it was the result of a series of shocking failures by the very people meant to protect him.

We explore how Robert’s night spiraled out of control, from his disoriented wanderings, to the police officers who abandoned him miles from help, dismissing their duty of care.

This heartbreaking story covers systemic failures, police accountability, and the devastating ripple effects of a preventable tragedy. It’s a case that forces us to ask: How could so many people fail one vulnerable young man? And how do we ensure this never happens again?

Robert Syrkowski

Schleswig-Holstein

Die Ziegelei nightclub

Police negligence

Hypothermia

Paradoxical undressing

Krumesser Heide

Negligent manslaughter

Police trial

Systemic failure

Duty of care

German legal system

Fresh Hell podcast

True crime Germany

Rural tragedy