The Secret in the Attic

On August 22, 1922, the Los Angeles Police Department was called to a house in response to a disturbance after neighbors reported hearing gunshots. They found a distraught woman named Volberger Oosterreich—known as "Dolly" to her friends—screaming hysterically. When the officers arrived, they were met with a gruesome scene: Dolly's husband, Fred Oosterreich, lay dead in a pool of blood on the living room floor. Meanwhile, a persistent banging sound led the police upstairs to the master bedroom, where they found Dolly locked inside a large wardrobe.

Once freed from her unusual prison, a sobbing Dolly explained that an armed intruder had broken into their home, demanding valuables. Fred had refused, and the intruder shot him three times at point-blank range before locking Dolly in the wardrobe and fleeing with Fred’s prized possession—a diamond-encrusted watch.

At first glance, this may seem like just another robbery gone wrong. But as it turns out, there was far more to this case than anyone could have imagined. The investigation would eventually reveal a bizarre and twisted tale that began nearly a decade earlier.

**[Flashback to 1913]**

To understand what really happened that night, we have to go back nine years. In 1913, Fred and Dolly were living in Milwaukee, where Fred owned a successful textiles factory. Outwardly, they appeared to have the perfect life—wealth, a nice home, and a prosperous business. But Fred began to suspect that something was amiss. He found himself frequently misplacing items like clothes and cigars, and he started hearing strange scratching and scuffling sounds from the roof, which only he could hear.

Fred’s doctor attributed these symptoms to stress, prescribing rest and relaxation. But instead of finding peace, Fred's paranoia worsened, and he turned to alcohol for solace. He also suspected that Dolly was being unfaithful, and their relationship deteriorated.

**[Introduction of Otto Sanhuber]**

Dolly had indeed been having an affair. Her lover, Otto Sanhuber, was a young sewing machine repairman who had caught her eye at Fred’s factory. The affair began with Otto visiting Dolly under the pretense of fixing a broken sewing machine. However, when neighbors began to grow suspicious, Dolly devised a plan: Otto would move into the attic of their home, living in secret to be with her whenever Fred was away.

For nearly a decade, Otto lived in the Oosterreich's attic, coming out only when Fred was at work. During the day, Otto did the housework, cooking Fred's meals, ironing his clothes, and even polishing his shoes—all while remaining completely hidden. Fred was unknowingly living with the man who would one day kill him.

**[The Murder]**

The situation reached a boiling point in 1922 when Fred and Dolly had a heated argument. Fearing for Dolly's safety, Otto—armed with two small pistols—rushed downstairs and shot Fred three times. He and Dolly quickly fabricated the story of an armed intruder, with Otto taking Fred’s watch to make the robbery seem more believable. He then locked Dolly in the wardrobe to give her an alibi.

**[Aftermath and Trial]**

Despite their careful planning, Dolly’s story soon unraveled. Her suspicious behavior, including gifting Fred’s diamond-encrusted watch to her new lover, lawyer Herman Shapiro, led to further investigation. Otto and Dolly were eventually arrested, and their bizarre secret came to light. At Otto’s trial, he was convicted of manslaughter but walked free due to the statute of limitations. Dolly’s trial ended in a hung jury, and she too avoided punishment.

**[Conclusion]**

Otto Sanhuber, dubbed the “Batman of LA” or the “Ghost in the Garret,” faded into obscurity after the trial. Dolly lived out her days quietly until her death in the early 1960s. This story serves as a reminder that sometimes the most unsettling things can be happening right under our noses—literally.