Unsolved Case: Murder of Susanne Lindholm Artwork

Scandinavian Crimes

Murderers/Criminals from Scandinavia and Nordic countries are no different. These Finnish, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish killers are notable for their lack of regard for human life. From murderous nurses to killers who committed random acts of violence. Come sit and have a listen as we learn more about Nordic and Scandinavian criminals.

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Scandinavian Crimes

Unsolved Case: Murder of Susanne Lindholm

September 22, 2025 • Devante Johnson & Delila Sirak • Season 4 • Episode 2

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Year(s) of Incident: August 8, 1976
Location: Finland
Unsolved Case: Murder of Susanne Lindholm
Victim(s): 1
Method: Rape, Strangled

On the morning of August 8, 1976, in the district of Kumpula in Helsinki, the body of 25-year-old Susanne Lindholm was discovered in the bicycle cellar of her apartment building. She had been brutally murdered, and the crime scene bore clear signs of a violent struggle. The savage nature of the killing deeply shocked the Finnish public and left a lasting impact on the community.

Despite immediate investigative efforts, the case would remain unsolved, gradually becoming one of Helsinki’s most disturbing murder mysteries.

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Devante: 0:37

Welcome to Scandinavian Crimes. My name is Devante and say hello to my lovely co-host, Delila.

Delila: 0:43

Hi.

Devante: 0:44

And on this podcast, we talk about famous Scandinavian criminals who made their mark throughout Scandinavian history. So welcome back to episode two of Scandinavian Crimes. I hope you guys had a lovely couple of weeks. And once again, just a reminder for the first couple of episodes, we're only gonna be dropping episodes every other week for this year slash season of the podcast. So that way we can communicate with you guys more on social media. So today we're gonna be covering a case that I think nonetheless will maybe interest a lot of you. On the morning of August 8th, 1976, in the district of Kumpala in Helensky, the body of a 25 year old, Suzanne Lindholm was discovered in the bicycle cellar of her apartment building. She had been brutally murdered and the crime scene bore clear signs of a violent struggle. The savage nature of killing deeply shocked the Finnish public and left a lasting impact on the community. Despite immediate investigative efforts, the case would remain unsolved, gradually becoming one of Helensky's most disturbing murder mysteries. But as usual, do you know what I'm about to say? Grab your tea, grab your snacks. If you're on your way to work, tuck yourself into a nice little corner on the bus or the train, putting your earphones nice and tight. Because this is the story of Suzanne Lindholm's murder. Suzanne Lindholm was known to those around her as a young woman, both outward beauty and inner promise. At just 25 years old, she had established a life of independence living alone in the residential neighborhood of Kumpala. Located Northeast of the city center, Kumpala was a quiet, family friendly area, a place where people felt safe and knew their neighbors. For Suzanne, it was what she called home. Professionally, she worked as a flight attendant, a career that in the 1970s was widely regarded as a glamorous and modern kind of lifestyle and career. It was a job that came with travel, exposure to different cultures and a sense of freedom that not many women of the time had a chance to experience. She was by all appearances, enjoying a life with an active social circle. Those who knew her spoke of a vibrant, intelligent woman who carried herself with confidence and charm. But that life was brought to an unexplained end during the early hours of that one August morning. On the evening of Saturday, August 7th, 1976, Suzanne made plans to spend the night out with friends. The group gathered at Hotel Hesperia, a prominent hotel and social hub located in the heart of Halinsky. At the time, Hotel Hesperia was considered a fashionable spot known for its lively bars, music, and relaxed atmosphere. Locals and travelers alike mingled there, especially on weekends, and the warm August weather gave the evening a relaxed late summer energy. Inside the hotel, conversation and laughter filled the air. Suzanne dressed for an evening out, appearing to be enjoying herself as she sipped drinks and shared stories with her friends. There was nothing unusual in her demeanor. At approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday, August 8th, Suzanne left Hotel Hesperia. That moment would prove to be the final confirmed sighting of Suzanne. Later that same day, in the morning, Deputy Judge Esco Savo-Lainan, a resident of the same apartment building where Suzanne lived, was going about his usual weekend routine. Accompanied by his children, Esco went into the bicycle cellar of the building, a shared, dimly lit space in the basement where tenants stored their bicycles and other belongings. It was a mundane task, something done countless times before without incident. But this time, it was different. As Esco opened the cellar door, he was confronted with a scene so brutal that it would stay with him for the rest of his life. Lying on the cold concrete floor was the body of Suzanne. She was lifeless and had been the victim of a violent attack. Esco quickly shielded his children from the site and raised the alarm. The police and emergency responders arrived at the scene. They confirmed that Suzanne had been murdered. When had once been an ordinary bicycle cellar was now transformed into a crime scene, Esco later recalled the scene in vivid detail. The cellar borne the physical aftermath of the violent confrontation. Bikes and personal items were all over the place. Things that were usually lined up neatly along the walls had been knocked over and scattered around. It was immediately evident that both the witness and the investigators that Suzanne had not gone down without a fight. The crime was quickly classified as a sexual homicide. This was not only a murder, it was a deeply violating and personal attack. The violence of the assault combined with the intimate setting made it clear to investigators that the crime had likely been premeditated. The killer had taken a considerable risk by committing such an act within a shared residential space. One that other tenants, including children, accessed regularly. In 1976, however, the tools available to finish law enforcement were extremely limited. Forensic science had not reached a technological sophistication we now take for granted. DNA profile, microscopic trace analysis, and advanced chemical testing were years away from becoming standard procedures. At the time, investigators relied heavily on blood typing, fingerprint analysis, and witness testimony. Unfortunately, none of these methods yielded immediate breakthroughs in Suzanne's case. Though the crime scene likely contained valuable physical evidence left behind by the perpetrator, perhaps hair, skin cells, or even fibers, investigators were unable to extract or analyze it in a meaningful way using the available forensic tools. No one had witnessed the attack. No one had seen Suzanne into the building with another person. And there are no neighbors who reported unusual noises or movements during the critical hours of 3 a.m. when she left the hotel, Hespera, in the morning discovering of her body. The building had remained as far as anyone can tell, quiet throughout the night. The lack of information created one of the toughest hurdles in the case, figuring out the timeline. Hotel Hespera was located roughly four kilometers from Suzanne's residence. How she traveled from the location to her home has never been confirmed. Did she walk the entire distance on foot? It would have taken nearly an hour, long enough for her to be vulnerable, especially in the early mornings. Or did someone offer her a ride? If so, was it someone she knew and trusted or a stranger who took advantage of an opportunity? Despite the repeated public appeals, police were never able to establish what happened during the critical gap in time. No one came forward to report having seen her walking that route. No cab drivers, friends, or passerby recalled offering her a ride. It was within this window of time that the investigators believed Suzanne encountered her killer, whether it happened during the walk or her doorstep or inside the building itself is still unknown. The Halinsky Police and more specifically the city's homicide squad immediately launched a full-scale investigation into Suzanne's murder. The case was handled with urgency led by experienced officers including Chief Crime Inspector Yuha Rotahemo. From the outset, investigators explored several theories and potential leads. Dozens of interviews were conducted. The backgrounds of known offenders in the area were re-examined, but none of the initial efforts brought the police closer to identifying the killer. The gap in Suzanne's timeline proved to be a recurring obstacle. Without information about how she got home or whom she may have encountered, police were left to speculate on possible scenarios. Even as weeks turned into months, the investigation remained active. New names came under scrutiny. Some individuals were considered person of interest based on their criminal histories, geographic proximity to the scene or general behavior. But despite extensive efforts, no suspect was ever charged. Over the years, investigators have explored multiple theories to uncover the truth behind Suzanne's murder. The deeply violent and sexually motivated nature of the crime led police early on to consider that the perpetrator might be a known sexual offender, someone with a history of predatory behavior who either lived in or had access to the Cumbula area during the summer of 1976. The theory guided much of the initial investigative work. Police compiled lists of individuals with prior convictions for sexual assault, rape or violent behavior toward women. They focused particularly on those whose addresses are places of employment placed near Suzanne's apartment building. Several men fit this profile, including one individual who stood out, a local resident with a documented pattern of violence against women. He lived within walking distance of the crime scene and had a criminal history that aligned with the nature of the attack and appeared at least initially to be a promising suspect. However, after extensive questioning, background checks and efforts to cooperate timelines, this individual along with others similarly profiled was eventually ruled out. Some had verifiable alibis, others despite their troubling records like any concrete connection to Suzanne or the location of the crime. The sense of hope that these early leagues might yield a breakthrough gradually faded, replaced by growing uncertainty. Another theory centers around the possibility that Suzanne encountered her killer on the journey home from the hotel. One possibility is that Suzanne may have accepted a ride from someone, perhaps someone she knew casually or a stranger who appeared trustworthy. In the 1970s, hitchhiking and casual ride offers were not uncommon, especially late at night when public transit options were limited. If this occurred, it's possible that her killer first might contact her during this journey, whether through coercion or manipulation or force, the suspect may have gained access to her building and followed her inside. Alternatively, some investigators have considered the possibility that Suzanne was followed discreetly, perhaps from the hotel itself or somewhere along her route. The entrance to her apartment building was not secured with modern surveillance or locked access doors as it would be typically today. If someone had been trailing her, they might've simply waited for the right moment to strike once she entered the building alone. Once inside, what happened in the bicycle cellar remains speculative, but the evidence paints a partial picture. The scene showed clear signs of a struggle. These disturbances suggested Suzanne resisted her attacker. She likely fought back, physically trying to escape or defend herself. Investors believe that she may have been surprised or ambushed. Given the confined and somewhat isolated nature of the cellar, it's possible the killer planned to exploit that space, knowing it was rarely visited at that hour. Despite these clues, the precise sequence of events, how Suzanne ended up in the cellar, how the confrontation unfolded, and whether the attacker lived in the building or entered from outside has never been confirmed. The absence of eyewitnesses, lack of physical evidence capable of identifying the perpetrator, and forensic limitations of the time have kept this vital piece of the puzzle unsolved. Years later, the case was brought back into the public eye through a televised feature by Crime TV. The program revisited the known facts, retraced the timeline, and presented interviews with individuals connected to the case. The broadcast sparked a surge in public interest and with it, new tips. Some of these tips named individuals who had never been associated with the case before. These people were thoroughly investigated, but all were ultimately cleared of involvement. Other tips revisited known individuals, including one man with a criminal background involving rape and violence against women. This man had lived in Kumbula District at the time of the murder and on the surface seemed as a possible suspect. However, investigators had cleared him in the original 1976 inquiry. Upon re-examination, nothing new was uncovered and he was once again dismissed as a suspect. Despite the passing decades, the murder of Suzanne has never disappeared from the public consciousness. It has remained an open, painful chapter in Finland's modern criminal history, one frequently referenced in discussions of cold cases and unsolved crimes. At the time, Helinsky was not accustomed to such acts of violence, especially not in residential neighborhoods. The fact that a murder had occurred in a communal part of the building just steps from the homes of dozens of residents deeply unsettled the neighborhood. This was not a remote or hidden location. It was a place that children played. Near where their families came and went daily without a second thought. Suzanne's murder violated not only her safety, but also the communal trust and sense of normalcy around that life in the city. Families who had once allowed their children to play freely in courtyards now locked their doors more tightly. Neighbors who had once exchanged friendly nods in the stairwell began to look at one another with suspicion. The atmosphere in Kumbula changed in an instant and the wound has never fully healed. Though family has since seen advances in forensic science, no new physical evidence has emerged that could definitively link any individual to the crime. The evidence that was collected in 1976 has been preserved, but given the limitations of the original investigation, especially the lack of DNA testing or secure trace evidence protocols, investigators remain unsure whether those materials could ever give a breakthrough. Still, the search for the truth has never truly stopped. For Suzanne's family, for the investigators who refuse to give up, and for the public that still remembers, that hope endures, that one day someone will come forward with the missing piece or the technology will finally reveal what has remained hidden for so long. Until that day arrives, the case of Suzanne Lindholm remains officially unsolved. (soft music) So obviously this is an unsolved case. Even though nobody was arrested, people are still very interested in discuss this case till this day. And there's a lot of speculative theories based on all the evidence that we have currently. And I actually wanted to ask you, Devonté, based from all these theories, what do you think happened? And do you think it was planned? Or do you think it was somebody was stalking and just happened to take the chance of attacking her? Or do you think it was somebody who knew her? Like, what do you think? I think during the investigation, it was a good route to explore, you know, people who are known for these offenses nearby. But one thing I will always preach or I think is a good starting place, especially during these times, is I will always kind of check the building. Much like we've seen in other cases or experienced in other cases, some of these things don't add up where even if they didn't have locks the same way that they do in apartments, typically, you know, you got a downstairs lock, where you gotta have a little tap key or a physical key to get inside. It was the fact that the person was aware of the bike room downstairs, which is like, okay. He could have followed her down there though. But also if it's three in the morning, you're coming from a party or event, you're not going downstairs to the bicycle room. Do you think the perpetrator put her there? I think what possibly could have happened is, and remember, this is all speculation. And my first theory would be in this investigation is I would assume it was someone who either lived in the building or maybe had access to the building. And I say that because once again, they were aware of the room and I think she might've been coerced into the building. We're going in there. Because there were no, at least from what we've read, there was no signs of a struggle prior. She didn't have any bike or nothing. Right, there was no signs of struggle prior to coming into the bike room. The entire crime seems to exist within the single room. But if you think about it, it could have also been like a throw, a misdirect, and what if- I doubt it's that deep. This type of crime is rarely so thought out. Do you think it was a violent- This is just a violent, aggressive, this is not like a super premeditated crime where it's just like, "I'm gonna do this and move the body." And it's nothing complex. I think it was strictly just someone who- You think it was a sexually- I think it was a sexually motivated crime, just this really aggressive crime. And the crime took place in the room. There was no, at least from what we read, there was no signs of a struggle prior to entering the room in the building lobby or the staircase. It seems to exist only in that room. So it's a possibility that either the person or the court start to go down in that room, being aware of it. And the crime took place knowing that at that time, nobody was gonna be around, or someone at least who interacted with the building enough to know that also. So I would probably stick close to home, which they kind of did. They went through the sexual offenders in the area. They said they looked at some of the neighbors and all that stuff, but due to lack of technology, unless she was able to physically hurt him, which still might be possible, there was nothing to tie anyone specifically to the scene, but also they had nothing to compare it to. But I think they did interview and they couldn't find anything to connect them. Yeah, that's what I mean. Because it was a very heavily family-oriented neighborhood and everybody was happy. It was a very nice neighborhood and something like that should happen, was just crazy. The reason I say that as well is because we did have a case and I forget the name. We have multiple cases where there's like nice neighborhoods and then boom, boom, something happens. Yeah, so there's a case in particular that we had not in last season. The one with the bicycle with the child? The one with the bicycle and the child in the elevator? No. Which one are you thinking about? It was a case, I forget which, I forget the name of it, but it was a case that we did last season where a guy had a family and he was, I find him correctly, he was the killer, but the thing is people just didn't suspect him. Even his wife didn't initially suspect him because obviously, oh, he wouldn't do that. But then I forgot there was something that caused a wife to suspect him that-- Oh, the murder of the Conys? I think so. I think it was that one. Because he was attacking and he was going up and down with his mental health. And then he started attacking girls that were named Conys. So it reminded me of that simply because, if I remember correctly, there was a detail in the case where some people didn't suspect him off rip or he was suspected and then they didn't have anything to tie him to the scene and also simply because he was married. So even though this is a family neighborhood, I'm thinking about the fact that, oh, it doesn't matter if the family lives here or people have husband and wife or kids. Oftentimes, a lot of killers can actually have full blown families and they can do something like this, this sexually violent crime, and then go about their day. And then oftentimes, it won't be in the Connie case, the wife was the saving grace for the case. And there was also witnesses that saw, in this case, unfortunately-- Yeah, there was no evidence. There was nobody who saw nothing. We didn't even know if there was a person who followed her. So basically what I'm saying is like, in this case, it's because they don't have anything else, they have nothing. And in that case, they just so happened to see someone who looked kind of like him, but I think he was initially suspected and they let him off the first time. And then later on, they caught on to him because the wife ended up having, oh no, I think it's him. So I guess I'm just saying all this to say, even though this was a family neighborhood, this was a safe area, so to speak, it's entirely possible. Someone could have been her neighbor. We have so many similar cases to that. Yeah, it doesn't, like I said, either way, I'm not saying that. I don't know if it's that case, but sorry. Yeah, I'm not saying-- But I understand which case you're talking about. It's not, it doesn't have to be identical. I'm just saying like in the case where the wife had a piece of information, it could be anybody in the building, it's my point. And even if there was nothing tying them to the scene, there was nothing tying him to that case in that scene either, but it was just one person who changed the dynamic of the case. And I think in this situation, it might be that case. We all know, unsolved cases, they could be solved years later. So like, it's a possibility that one missing piece, maybe new technology can do something. We've seen crazy things like technology being able to use like DNA from tooth or teeth, teeth, I don't know. That's the way I said it was weird. Either way, they'd be able to extract information from the smallest samples and be able to find, because sometimes most of the perpetrators are able to, like they redo the, you know, crimes over and over again, even if they spent it out throughout years later or whatever. And maybe they'd be able to put them in the DNA registry and boom, you're caught. It's also entirely possible that the person responsible either one or two things could have died or they could have been caught for another crime, but they have not been tied to this crime because they didn't leave enough evidence to be caught for this crime. So that's also something that can leave a lot of cold cases, cold, because they've already been arrested for another crime and, you know, they are no longer in the area or something like that. Or like I said, they could have been killed or not killed, they could have died. So, but like I said, it seems like they had the idea to check the nearby area. I think they did the best that they could with what they had. Yeah, they just didn't have the resources they needed. Most of the cases back then was very, like very, relied a lot on witnesses to solve most of the cases, but they just have nothing to go with, unfortunately. But in that case, you believe that it was somebody in the building who was raging out of control. Yeah, because the 70s was prime time for serial killers, you know, because none of the technology we have nowadays exists. So, and every time we've covered a case similar to this or in the ballpark of this, it's always someone who's close by, never fails that it was a neighbor or someone who lived next door across the street. I would have been surprised if it was a stalker. I mean, yeah, but there was no indication that she had a stalker, because, you know, I'm pretty sure someone would have noticed as a stalker, it's not like this would be the first time you saw her and then, oh, I'm gonna do it right now. There's usually a buildup to it. I usually feel like there's at least a trail, because also she traveled a lot. So there's no guarantee what her schedule was, unless that person knew her. Personally, yeah, that's true. And then even then other flight attendants, who she flies with, who she goes to the events with, and spend time with, they would at least have some indication of, oh, maybe someone was following her. She would have mentioned it to somebody if something would have caught her attention. But I think one thing maybe I would have tried to make an effort in doing, which maybe never crossed their mind, is I would have went back to the hotel and found as many routes possible to her home, and also found which routes were the shortest. Because most of the time, people try to take the shortest route to go home. So I would have done that. And even if they speculated, oh, did she walk? Maybe dogs too. Yeah, and that's what I mean. So maybe they only take dogs when they're like trying to find missing people. But that's what I mean though. Like they could have found dogs so something could have led you to a piece of evidence, something that was a little off, you know? So that's what I mean. Like find the route, then take the dogs, because let's say for example, the hotel to her home, let's say there's only two routes. Well, which one's the shortest? Okay, which one's the shortest walking? Then start from there and see if you can find something because they did speculate as well that that time that they were missing from her leaving the hotel to her house was a big part that they were missing. So I would have walked it or drove it or did whatever. I would have did both, truthfully. Like basically just re- Remapping the steps and see, okay, if this is someone that followed her, is there something that could be found along the way? I mean, I know it's a slim chance, but you never know. It could give you something. But that could give a small thing. A small thing, it might- The earlier you do that, the better. Right, so like, let's say for example, to your point, if it was somebody who worked at the hotel, or maybe a button from their uniform fell off if they followed her home, or even if it was like someone who was also at the event, maybe it might've been another flight, a male flight attendant, for example, and then something, a shoe print or something, something to work with. But I think they did investigate the road and noticed that there was like no clues there, no clues of struggling, no clues of like, so maybe they did do that, or maybe you were specifically talking about finding like, like shortcuts and stuff like that. Yeah, I'm just trying to find the shortest route, which would likely, you know, most likely she would have taken and see if that made a difference. I don't know how detailed they were. Maybe they just took the most common main road. That's what I'm assuming as well, and also wasn't, in the reading, it wasn't mentioned specifically, but I'm assuming they just took the most common route, especially if they were driving. They probably just drove there, but not, if they consider the walking, then I would walk the route too. So that's what I would have done, but I don't really have much else to say, but I think this is a crime definitely that wasn't too premeditated. This is pure, unadulterated rage and sexual-based crime probably because of just the craziness of the scene. So I'm pretty much good. Anything? Yes, no, I think, I think that's all honestly, my thoughts and what I believe. Well, let us, oh, I said let us guys. Let us guys. Well, you guys let us know what you think about this case, if there's any details that you feel like was overlooked or maybe something we didn't mention, or if you know details about the case specifically, or maybe have some- If you have any tips or anything, that's like, that's actually, if you can give them to the police officers. Yeah, you know, like, cause the whole point of this is to raise awareness, because maybe someone hears our podcast and then we say something that might drive a child to one's memory. And then next thing you know, this can be solved. So, you know, let us know, let the, if you remember something, let your local law enforcement know all that stuff. And yeah, just let us know, send us some love and all that. And yeah, follow us on social media as well. And that's what you'll be able to contact us and through the podcast texting feature as well. And of course, to make sure that we wrap things up on a lovely positive note, we always ended with some good food recommendations from yours truly and Delila as well. So you can go ahead and go first. It's, I want a specific brand of watermelon popsicle ice cream thing, cause it's so yummy, it's refreshing, it's lovely. And then I want ribs with mac and cheese. I'm so done. You have mac and cheese. We do. Wanna make ribs? It's okay. I mean, if you want to, but like, it's not my, yeah. I'm thinking of, it's cause of you yesterday, some pizza. Oh no, don't remind me. I had the worst craving yesterday. But either way, let us know. Let us guys know. Let us know what you guys think and we shall see you in the next episode. Love y'all, stay safe and we'll holla at you next time. Yes, bye. Peace out.

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Devante

Host

Delila

Co-host