Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

German Man Returns Stolen Skull After 60 Years

11/4/2025

34 8

Summary

Story summary

A German man returned a skull stolen from Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral 60 years ago.
He sent the skull back in a cardboard box with a letter describing actions during a guided tour of the catacombs, which hold about 11,000 remains.
Franz Zehetner, the cathedral archivist, expressed gratitude and said it was touching that the man wanted to make amends.
The skull has since been reinterred in the catacombs.

1 of 1

Story summary

A German man returned a skull stolen from Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral 60 years ago.
He sent the skull back in a cardboard box with a letter describing actions during a guided tour of the catacombs, which hold about 11,000 remains.
Franz Zehetner, the cathedral archivist, expressed gratitude and said it was touching that the man wanted to make amends.
The skull has since been reinterred in the catacombs.