A German shipping company heiress and her mentor who were mysteriously found dead hours apart on her family’s luxury South African wildlife estate had committed suicide, the family’s lawyer announced.
Caroline von Rantzau, whose father Dr. Eberhart von Rantzau is the managing director of Deutsche Afrika-Linien (DAL), died at the Leeuwfontein Estate on June 1, according to German newspaper Bild.
Police and family have denied any suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths of von Rantzau and Arno Koën, 40.
“On May 31, 2026, Mr. Arno Koën apparently took his own life at the Leeuwfontein hunting farm in the Limpopo province of South Africa. On June 1, 2026, Ms. Caroline von Rantzau took her own life at the same farm,” family lawyers told Bild. “There is no suspicion of foul play, and the family is fully cooperating with the South African police authorities.”
The 26-year-old heiress was found inside her room suffering from a gunshot wound with her father’s .375 caliber hunting rifle lying next to her, the outlet reported.
Initial reports claimed the sounds of two gunshots had rang out before she was found dead.
Von Rantzau was the head of Leeuwfontein Safari, an exclusive hunting ranch in the South African province of Limpopo near the Mozambique border.
Her death came about 20 hours after Koën was also found dead from a gunshot wound.
Koën allegedly shot himself with a 9mm handgun that was found roughly 16 feet from his body, South African police told the outlet.
Von Rantzau was initially claimed to have died in a car accident before the family and police confirmed she was killed by a gunshot.
“It is our sad duty to inform you that our beloved daughter Caroline von Rantzau was tragically killed in an accident in South Africa,” her family wrote in a message signed by her parents and brother.
Von Rantzau had called Koën a “foster father” and mentor as she formed a close relationship with the financial manager.
The young heiress had built an impressive life in South Africa, having just purchased two properties in the sprawling, untamed lands throughout the region while running the safari company.
She spent her time caring for the animals at the family estate, where antelope, horses, wildebeast, impalas, mongoose, monitors, birds and many other animals are said to live, according to the website.
Police are awaiting autopsy results before announcing the official causes of death, as details of the circumstances have not been released.
Manslaughter was ruled out in both shootings, a police spokesperson told Bild.
Dr. Eberhart von Rantzau is part of the third generation of family ownership of the company founded by John T. Essberger in 1924.
DAL, which sold its container liner business to Hapag-Lloyd in 2022, is a leading brand in chemical tankers across Europe, the company said.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.