hˌævɪŋ mˌeɪd ɐ sˈɑːləm pɹˈɑːmɪs tə ðə pˈɛɹənts ʌvðə mˈɜːdɚd ɡˈɜːl ðæt hiː wʊd fˈaɪnd ðə kˈʌlpɹɪt, mˈætθɛi ɐbˈændənd ðə plˈænz hiː hæd mˌeɪd fɔːɹ hɪz lˈaɪf ɪn ɹᵻtˈaɪɚmənt ænd ɪnstˈɛd kəntˈɪnjuːd ɪnvˈɛstᵻɡˌeɪɾɪŋ ðə kˈeɪs æz ɐ pɹˈaɪvət sˈɪɾɪzən.
Having made a solemn promise to the parents of the murdered girl that he would find the culprit, Matthäi abandoned the plans he had made for his life in retirement and instead continued investigating the case as a private citizen.