When Gustafsson was questioned on who had murdered his friends, he replied that he had seen a “shadowy figure” (via Mental Floss). According to All That’s Interesting, the police came up with a few suspects, including Karl Valdemar Gyllström and Hans Assmann. Gyllström had reportedly “drunkenly confessed to the murders.” Although he was investigated, Ranker reports that there was nothing to tie him to the murders. Oddly, Gyllström later drowned in Lake Bodom.
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As for Assmann, he was alleged to be a former KGB officer living near the lake. He matched the description of the blonde man the young bird watchers had seen. Many reported that he had been acting suspicious right after the murders had occurred. He had even visited a nearby hospital wearing blood-stained clothes (per Historic Mysteries). However, the police found that he had a “solid alibi.” The next suspect was none other than Gustafsson. In March 2004, 44 years after the murders, Gustafsson was arrested and put on trial, per All That’s Interesting.
Using DNA testing, police found that Gustafsson’s shoes had all three victims’ blood. They alleged that he became too drunk, which ultimately led to a disagreement with Boisman. Gustafsson was promptly kicked out of the tent and in a “blind rage” murdered his friends. He then attacked himself to make it seem like someone else had committed the crime. Ultimately, there was not enough evidence to convict Gustafsson and he was acquitted in 2005. As of 2022, the Lake Bodom Murders remain unsolved.
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