Nicole Rabitzsch and her husband, Hendrik, had been together for nearly three decades, building a life that took them from their native Germany to the sunny coast of California. The couple, both originally from Essen, Germany, appeared to share a life full of adventure and luxury, documenting their travels on social media. Their posts showed them on Caribbean cruises, enjoying New Year's celebrations on city rooftops, taking desert road trips, and spending countless days on the water.
They also enjoyed roller skating, riding bikes, and cruising in cars together. Friends and followers on social media dubbed them a "power couple." Nicole, 47, referred to Hendrik as her "hubby" in her posts. In June 2023, Hendrik posted an anniversary tribute to his wife, writing, "Congratulations on 26 years my love - we've been through so much together!"
For nearly 13 years, Nicole had worked at an Audi dealership in downtown Los Angeles. Before moving to the United States, she had spent more than five years working for the same automaker in Germany. Hendrik’s social media profiles showed him working on luxury cars like Porsches, racing motorcycles, and flying small planes and helicopters. Their life together was centered in Santa Monica, where they lived in a residence above a yoga studio in the 3100 block of Pico Boulevard.
The morning of Saturday, September 26, 2026, turned tragic inside their home. Investigators with the Santa Monica Police Department believe that at approximately 6:42 a.m., Hendrik Rabitzsch, 48, shot and killed his wife before turning the gun on himself. The violence remained undiscovered for more than 15 hours. That night, at about 9:40 p.m., police officers arrived at the residence to conduct a welfare check. It is not publicly known who requested the check. Upon entering the home, officers found both Nicole and Hendrik deceased.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner was called to the scene. An autopsy later determined that Nicole Rabitzsch died from a gunshot wound to the head, and her death was ruled a homicide. Hendrik Rabitzsch also died from a gunshot wound to the head, and his death was ruled a suicide. Investigators from the Santa Monica Police Department recovered a firearm at the scene and stated that no other individuals were believed to have been involved. They described the deaths as an isolated incident and assured the public there was no ongoing threat.
The investigation into the circumstances leading to the murder-suicide is ongoing, and authorities have remained tight-lipped about a possible motive. Police have not indicated whether there were any prior domestic violence calls to the residence. The case was the second of three murder-suicides to occur in Santa Monica in 2026, a string of tragedies that shook the coastal community and highlighted a grim pattern of domestic violence across the Westside of Los Angeles that year.
As of October 2026, the investigation was still active. The Santa Monica Police Department has asked for the public's help with the case. Anyone with information about the incident was asked to contact the SMPD Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.
