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Iris Stalzer sought help from the police shortly before the knife attack

Iris Stalzer had apparently felt threatened by her adopted daughter for some time. According to a report, the mayor of Herdecke visited a police station one day before the knife attack. The incident was again related to domestic violence.

Iris Stalzer, the mayor-elect of Herdecke, who was seriously injured in a knife attack, apparently contacted the police for help the day before the attack. According to information from the "Bild" newspaper, the 57-year-old SPD politician felt threatened by her adopted daughter and feared for her life.

 

 

On Monday, Stalzer reportedly appeared in person at the police station in Wetter/Ruhr. Her husband was away on a business trip at the time. "There were two personal contacts that day," a police spokesperson confirmed to the newspaper. "A case has been opened, and all necessary measures have been taken."

Announcement of the discontinuation of the Association for Adopted Children and Families

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that the Association for Adopted Children and Families (VAG) will definitively cease its operations as of January 1, 2026.

Social developments, policy choices in the adoption landscape, and a sharp decline in membership in recent years have resulted in the Association for Adopted Children and Families' financial viability steadily declining. Unfortunately, the number of active volunteers has also steadily decreased, making this decision unavoidable.

We thank the loyal VAG members who have supported us over the years. We also extend a special thanks to the (former and current) volunteers who have selflessly dedicated themselves to the Association for Adopted Children and Families, often for many years. We worked entirely with volunteers who shared their experience as adoptees or (prospective) adoptive parents.

For over 30 years, the Association for Adopted Children and Families has been advocating for open information provision, honest preparation for prospective adoptive parents, and professional (after)care for adoptees and adoptive families. They have achieved this by organizing accessible training and meetings, featuring the VAG magazine, the VAG book service, VAG contact persons, training evenings, adoption cafés, family activities, and more.

Meeting, learning from each other's stories, and recognition are crucial for adoptees, adoptive parents, and prospective adoptees. This is what made our decision so difficult. But without structured and financial support from our volunteer association, offering high-quality activities and training for adoptive families, adoptees, and prospective adoptees is unfortunately no longer possible.

‘I want to go home’: Man born in Canada but adopted by Americans stuck up north

Terrence McBride finds himself stuck.

He longs for his friends and family in Georgia and Texas, along with the job he was supposed to start at a golf course in Atlanta.

But the 63-year-old is recovering from a heart attack while living in a cramped rooming house in Saint John, N.B. — a city that’s unfamiliar. He says he feels emotionally and physically drained, just like his bank account.

 

His troubles began after he pulled up to the U.S. border in Calais, Maine on April 10. He told officials he’s an American citizen, but carries a Canadian passport.

Shocking twist in attack leaving Herdecke mayor Iris Stalzer fighting for life as police investigate her teenage children

Shocking twist in attack leaving Herdecke mayor Iris Stalzer fighting for life as police investigate her teenage children

Police reportedly found signs blood had been cleaned up and the knife was hidden before emergency services were called.

By Katharina Loesche

Emergency services stand next to a rescue helicopter in Herdecke, Germany, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, after the newly elected mayor of Herdecke, Iris Stalzer, has been found critically injured in her home.

 

Daughter allegedly tortured mayor for hours in the cellar

Daughter allegedly tortured mayor for hours in the cellar

Iris Stalzer's life was temporarily in danger.

Iris Stalzer's life was temporarily in danger.

sda

According to investigations, the SPD politician and designated mayor of Herdecke, Iris Stalzer, was tortured for hours by her adopted daughter. New details show the extent of the crime - and raise questions about a failed call for help.

Neue Details im Fall Stalzer: Darum ging die Adoptivtochter (17) auf ihre Mutter los herdecke iris stalzer

Bürgermeisterin mit Messer attackiert

Neue Details im Fall Stalzer: Darum ging die Adoptivtochter (17) auf ihre Mutter los

herdecke iris stalzer

Herdecke: Einsatzkräfte stehen neben einem Rettungshubschrauber. Die neu gewählte Bürgermeisterin von Herdecke, Iris Stalzer (SPD), ist lebensgefährlich verletzt in ihrer Wohnung gefunden worden.dpa

 

Transgender person can’t adopt kids: HC - The Times of India

Chennai: Madras high court on Tuesday refused any relief to a transwoman who wanted to legally adopt a child. The court held that Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 does not provide for legal adoption by a transgender person.For a transgender person to legally adopt a child, the regulation must be amended to include such persons as eligible for adoption, Justice M Dhandapani said. "Unless a writ of mandamus is moved against Union govt seeking to make an appropriate amendment in the Act, the relief sought cannot be granted," the court said.

The court then granted liberty to transwoman K Prithika Yashini, the first transperson appointed sub-inspector of police in TN, to approach Centre seeking an appropriate amendment to the Act enabling a transperson to adopt a child. According to the petitioner, in 2016, she moved the HC since her application for the post of sub-inspector was rejected. With a favourable order from the HC, she was appointed as a sub-inspector and is presently working as an assistant immigration officer.

In 2021, she decided to adopt a child and approached Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). On Sept 22, 2022, the authority rejected her application on the grounds that she cannot legally adopt a child since she is a transgender person. Aggrieved, she moved the present petition challenging the order of CARA. She contended that the rejection of her application amounts to discrimination and infringement of her rights as a transgender person.tnn

German mayor recovering, names daughter as knife attacker

German mayor recovering, names daughter as knife attacker

Mark Hallam with AFP, dpa

10/08/2025October 8, 2025

Iris Stalzer, mayor-elect of the west German town of Herdecke, has told investigators it was her adoptive daughter who stabbed her repeatedly in her home this week. Police said Stalzer's life was no longer in danger.

 

Iris Stalzer Stabbing Update: Police Arrest Mayor’s 15-Year-Old Adopted Son in Herdecke

Authorities confirm the arrest of Mayor Iris Stalzer’s adopted teenage son following the Herdecke stabbing that left the SPD mayor critically injured.


Iris Stalzer Stabbing Update: Police Arrest Mayor’s 15-Year-Old Adopted Son in Herdecke

Herdecke, Germany — Authorities have arrested the 15-year-old adopted son of SPD Mayor Iris Stalzer in connection with the shocking stabbing attack that left the mayor critically injured earlier this week. Police confirmed the arrest took place Tuesday afternoon following an intensive investigation near the mayor’s home in the Herrentisch district of Herdecke.

Teen Arrested After Contradictory Statement

According to local reports, the teenager was initially treated as a witness after claiming that “several men” had attacked his mother late Monday night. However, investigators later identified inconsistencies in his account.

Andhra official suspended over death of infant at adoption agency

The Andhra Pradesh government has suspended Anantapur District Women and Child Welfare and Empowerment Officer, M. Nagamani, for negligence resulting in the death of an infant at the Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA).


The Andhra Pradesh government has suspended Anantapur District Women and Child Welfare and Empowerment Officer, M. Nagamani, for negligence resulting in the death of an infant at the Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA).

The Department for Women and Children on Tuesday issued an order, suspending Nagamani and ordering disciplinary action against her.

The Government Order (GO) said that two-month-old Niroop died on October 3 but there was no immediate intimation on the hospitalisation and death of the child by District Women and Child Welfare and Empowerment Officer.

The death was reported lately after newspapers published the news.