Liechtenstein Family of Four Found Dead Amid Joint Swiss-Liechtenstein Police Probe

A joint investigation by Swiss and Liechtenstein police is underway following the discovery of four deceased members of the same family this week. The bodies were found on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and Thursday, December 25, 2025, in what authorities describe as an unusual and tragic event for the tiny Alpine principality of Liechtenstein.

Discovery and Identification

The initial discovery occurred on Wednesday when the body of a 41-year-old Liechtenstein citizen was found on the banks of the Rhine River in Sevelen, St. Gallen, Switzerland, an area close to Liechtenstein's capital, Vaduz. Subsequent investigations led law enforcement to an apartment in Vaduz, where three more bodies were discovered. These individuals have been identified as the 73-year-old father, 68-year-old mother, and 45-year-old sister of the man found by the river.

Ongoing Investigation and Autopsies

The St. Gallen cantonal police and Liechtenstein police are coordinating efforts in the cross-border investigation. Autopsies were ordered by both the St. Gallen public prosecutor's office and the Liechtenstein Princely Court of Justice and were performed on Thursday morning by the Institute of Forensic Medicine in St. Gallen. As of now, the exact cause of death for all four individuals remains undetermined. A police spokesperson stated that the investigation is 'proceeding in all directions' and assured the public that 'there is no danger to the public'.

Background and Rarity of the Event

Further details have emerged regarding the 41-year-old man found by the Rhine. He was reportedly a senior employee of the municipality of Triesen, located south of Vaduz. He had been suspended from his position just days prior, on December 18, due to alleged irregularities in financial accounts, with reports indicating 71,000 Swiss francs were missing.

This incident is particularly shocking for Liechtenstein, an Alpine enclave between Austria and Switzerland with a population of approximately 41,000 residents. The country rarely experiences homicides, making the discovery of four deceased family members an exceptionally rare and deeply unsettling event.

Conclusion

Authorities continue their thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the four family members. Further information is expected as the autopsies and police inquiries progress.