A weird twist in an already strange case: Police in Germany believe that three people killed with crossbows in a hotel were members of "a kind of sex circle with a focus on the Middle Ages," the AFP reports by way of RTL. A man identified as Torsten W., the 53-year-old owner of a store that sold medieval weapons and clothing and offered swordfighting lessons, is believed to have been the group's leader, the BBC reports. He was found dead in a Bavaria hotel room along with his partner, 33-year-old Kerstin E., and Farina C., 30. Police say they are treating the case as a "requested killing and suicide." They believe Farina C. shot the couple with the crossbow as they lay in bed, hand in hand, before shooting herself in the neck with the weapon.
A hotel guest told police that the trio, who checked in Friday night and were found dead Saturday, seemed "strange." Police say the last wills of the couple were found in the room. At Farina C.'s apartment more than 400 miles away, police found the bodies of her partner, 35-year-old Gertrud C., and a 19-year-old woman. No crossbows were found at the scene and it's not clear how the women died. Associates say "sex guru" Torsten W. was "in relationships with several women whom he ruled over like a master." They say he was violent and manipulative and treated the four women, who shared his fascination with the Middle Ages, like slaves. A couple tell RTL they fear their daughter is the 19-year-old who was found dead. They say they lost touch with her years ago after she fell under Torsten W.'s spell. (More Germany stories.)
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