Former Head Designer At Rolls-Royce Stabbed To Death Inside His $3 Million Mansion In Germany

Ian Cameron, former head designer at Rolls-Royce, was stabbed to death at his $3 million mansion in Herrsching, near Lake Ammersee, Germany. His wife, Verena Kloos, somehow survived the attack by scaling a wall to a neighbour’s house from where she called the police.

According to the Sun, the incident happened on Friday evening. The renowned vintage car expert who led the Rolls-Royce design from 1999 to 2012 was victim of a failed robbery attempt and police suspect that the attacker may have been trying to steal from Cameron’s collection of valuable cars.

Reports by German news media outlets said that cable to the house’s surveillance cameras appeared to have been severed.

“The investigation suggests that this was a violent crime. If cables were actually cut there, that sounds like good preparation. But it is extremely rare that a burglar or a robber who prepares himself in this way then stabs and kills,” officials speaking to German media outlets said, as per a report by the Sun.

The suspect, described as being between 180 and 190 cm tall and wearing light-coloured pants, a dark-blue sweatshirt, yellow-green gloves, and a red backpack, fled the scene on foot and remains at large.

Meanwhile, automaker BMW, where Cameron designed the Z8 sports car, issued a statement to Europe-based automobile news outlets Automotive News Europe: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the news about our former Rolls-Royce designer. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during these difficult hours”.

Cameron took over Rolls-Royce design department after BMW took over the British luxury automobile manufacturer in 2003.

“Ian played a significant role in shaping Rolls-Royce from when it was first acquired by BMW Group and moved to its Home at Goodwood, West Sussex,” Rolls-Royce said in a separate statement to Automotive News Europe.

“He created thoroughly contemporary motor cars that remained sympathetic to the marque’s design lineage. Our thoughts are with his family and friends,” the luxury automobile manufacturer said.

Rolls-Royce CEO Chris Brownridge said he was ‘saddened’ by the news on professional networking platform LinkedIn. Rolls-Royce highlighted how Cameron’s helped shape the Phantom family as well as the smaller Ghost.