St. Gallen, February 1, 2026
Woman found Dead in st.Gallen apartment; Eritrean Man Detained
Table of Contents
Police are investigating the death of a 26-year-old Swiss woman discovered in an apartment building, with an Eritrean man, 28, currently in custody.
- A 26-year-old Swiss woman was found dead Friday morning at Visionapartments in St. gallen.
- A 28-year-old Eritrean man, who made the emergency call, is in custody as authorities investigate his involvement.
- Police are investigating the possibility of foul play and have not ruled out drug use.
- The apartment building has reportedly been linked to prostitution in the past.
A 26-year-old Swiss woman was found dead in an apartment at Visionapartments in St. Gallen on Friday morning,prompting a police investigation and the arrest of a 28-year-old Eritrean man. The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, but authorities are treating the case with serious attention.
Emergency Call Led to Discovery
police responded to an emergency call received at the St. Gallen emergency call and operations control center at 6:30 a.m. on Friday. The call was reportedly made by the Eritrean man who was present at the scene, according to police statements on Sunday.
Investigation Ongoing, No Confirmation of Crime
The St.Gallen cantonal police stated on Sunday that the involvement of the man in custody needs to be clarified. “For this reason the man is in custody,” a police spokesperson said. While a crime has not been confirmed, authorities indicated it was not a natural death, according to a statement to “20 minutes.”
What was the condition of the apartment? A tenant at the Visionapartments building told a local newspaper that a cleaning staff member reported evidence of significant cocaine use in the apartment.
Police are currently investigating a possible connection between potential drug use and the woman’s death, but have not yet drawn any conclusions. “A connection between possible consumption of narcotics and the death of the 26-year-old woman is currently unclear and is also the subject of ongoing investigations,” the police spokesperson stated.
building’s Troubled Reputation
Visionapartments offers furnished apartments at various locations throughout Switzerland, including 69 units at the St.Gallen location on Rorschacher Strasse 135.However, the building has garnered a questionable reputation online, with reports of illicit activities.
Several online posts from August 4, 2025, detail alleged experiences with prostitution at the location, with one user claiming to have been defrauded of 250 Swiss francs despite police intervention. Another user reported booking an appointment with a woman at the same address,referring to it as a well-known location.
Previous Reports of Sex Work
A local snack shop employee corroborated these claims, stating that women occasionally rent rooms at the building to offer sexual services, often arriving dressed provocatively and ordering strong coffee. This aligns with research conducted last November for the SRF broadcast “Rundschau,” which revealed that several self-check-in hotels, including those operated by Visionapartements, were being used for sex work. The company previously denied tolerating such activities.
Company Denies Allegations
Visionapartments maintains that its accommodations are intended for stays of at least two nights and are not offered for short-term or hourly rentals. Andrei iordan of Visionapartments expressed the company’s condolences to the deceased’s family and friends, stating, “we are deeply affected by this tragic incident.”
Iordan emphasized that the company’s rules strictly prohibit illegal activities, including drug use, and that violations result in immediate eviction. He stated that, due to the ongoing police investigation, he could not provide further details at this time.
