Influencer Hunts For Twin Lookalike On Instagram & Brutally Kills Her - But She Won't Say Why

Summary of Influencer Hunts For Twin Lookalike On Instagram & Brutally Kills Her - But She Won't Say Why

by Stephanie Soo

1h 4m•March 29, 2026
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Overview of Influencer Hunts For Twin Lookalike On Instagram & Brutally Kills Her - But She Won't Say Why (Rotten Mango, host: Stephanie Soo)

This episode tells the “Doppelgänger Murder” case from Germany: a young woman (Sherbin “Sherry” K.) allegedly used Instagram DMs to lure a look‑alike (Khadija) to a meeting, after which Khadija was brutally killed and dumped in the back of Sherry’s Mercedes. The case shocked locals and went viral for its bizarre details — fake job/music-video/laser treatment DMs, allegations of faking one’s own death, a mysterious accomplice (Shakir), accusations of black‑magic talismans, and a long, confusing trial. Both defendants were ultimately convicted.

Key facts & timeline

  • Victim: Khadija (first name used; German privacy rules mean surnames are redacted).
  • Accused: Sherbin “Sherry” K. (the influencer) and a man named Shakir.
  • Other central figures: ex‑husband Rowan (initial suspect), a purported hitman/cons (Volkan/Vulcan), a rapper Furkan, and Khadija’s father (grieving witness).
  • Date of murder: August 17, 2022 (police timeline from episode).
  • Crime scene: Khadija found in the backseat of Sherry’s Mercedes (E‑class coupe) with multiple stab wounds and facial trauma; later identified by DNA and cross‑checks. Medical examiners reported ~56 stab wounds.
  • Identification confusion: at first the body was believed to be Sherry (parents publicly mourned); CCTV later showed Sherry alive, prompting a major shift in investigation.
  • Motive theories debated at trial: doppelgänger plot to fake Sherry’s death, jealousy/romantic rivalry, a paid/sexualized promise to accomplice, or ritual/“black magic.” None were cleanly proven; prosecutors leaned on motive = desire to escape family constraints.

Main players (concise)

  • Sherry (Sherbin K.): married then divorced from Rowan; described as impulsive, manipulative, attention‑seeking; alleged history of violent incidents (tasing brother‑in‑law, assaulting husband). Prosecutors portray her as orchestrator; defense emphasizes low IQ (~86) and claims she’s being scapegoated.
  • Khadija: victim; responded to DM offers (music video/laser treatment). Travelled to meet and was killed.
  • Shakir: companion/accomplice; prosecutors argue he carried out the stabbing (DNA evidence, brass knuckles found in his apartment, scratch marks on his arms). He refused to testify.
  • Rowan: ex‑husband — initially accused by locals and family, voluntarily interviewed; gave key testimony about marriage problems and abuse claims.
  • Volkan/Vulcan: alleged con/fake hitman who claimed Sherry hired him in another plot (kidnap/drown a brother‑in‑law) and accepted money; later convicted on fraud/tax charges for taking money but not delivering murder.
  • Furkan: local rapper with potential interpersonal links to victim and accused; suspicious behavior (destroyed phone) but no formal charges.

Evidence & prosecution theories

  • Digital trail: multiple Instagram DMs from accounts tied to Sherry contacting women who “looked similar” offering paid treatments or music‑video roles. Khadija engaged and accepted an appointment.
  • Forensics: Khadija’s DNA confirmed the identity (despite initial assumption it was Sherry). Stab wound profile and scene forensics placed violent assault and transport in Sherry’s car.
  • Physical evidence: brass knuckles found (linked to Shakir), Shakir’s DNA on victim, fingerprints on an odd talisman (folded papers/foil) found in Sherry’s car, messages between Shakir and Sherry referencing a forthcoming event (“tomorrow will be wild”).
  • Motive theories tried by prosecutors:
    • Doppelgänger scheme: Sherry sought a look‑alike to be killed so she could fake her death and escape family control. Evidence: mass DMs to similar‑looking women; choosing a victim who could plausibly be mistaken for Sherry when disfigured.
    • Coercion/reward: Shakir killed for money, affection, or threats; unclear because no clear payment trail.
    • Ritual/black magic: talisman found in car sparked speculation; courts rejected the human‑sacrifice theory after investigation (the talisman turned out to be a scribble by an illiterate religious figure).
    • Jealousy/romantic rivalry: possible link via Furkan/club scene, but no clear proof.

Defense arguments & trial highlights

  • Defense for Sherry:
    • Argued racial/cultural bias: sharing similar ethnic features does not equal a “doppelgänger” murder plot.
    • Emphasized Sherry’s relatively low measured IQ (~86) to argue she couldn’t plan such an elaborate scheme.
    • Claimed Sherry was coerced and physically unable to stop when violence erupted — Sherry testified she was threatened and paralyzed with fear as Shakir attacked.
  • Prosecution:
    • Presented ~100 witnesses, digital messages, witness testimony about Sherry’s behavior and motive (desire to escape her strict Yazidi family, control issues).
    • Highlighted Shakir’s silence, DNA links, and brass knuckles as evidence of active participation.
  • Oddities in court:
    • Multiple strange side threads: Volkan’s “contract” confession and later fraud conviction; alleged lists/tell‑tale notes found in Shakir’s cell; Sherry’s behavior in court described as flippant/cute by reporters; media fascination with the “doppelgänger” angle.

Verdicts & sentences

  • Both defendants convicted.
  • Sherry: convicted and given a sentence that carries eligibility for parole only after 25 years (special‑circumstances/stab wounds factor).
  • Shakir: convicted and given a sentence with parole eligibility after ~15 years (standard life‑term rules in Germany vary based on circumstances).
  • Victim’s father publicly anguished in court; the outcome drew criticism from family and local community members who felt sentences differed relative to culpability.

Notable quotes from the episode

  • “Screw Nuremberg. There’s something more important right now.” (reaction when someone spots Sherry alive)
  • Rowan (police interview): “I feel an absolute emptiness and utter chaos inside.”
  • Sherry’s father on potential consequences earlier: “If you abandon my daughter it will cost three human lives.”
  • Prosecutor/medical fact: stabbing someone 56 times can trigger a “special circumstance” increasing minimum parole eligibility.

Themes, context & takeaways

  • Social media as a lure: the case shows how casual DMs promising modeling/gigs or free treatments can be weaponized to arrange in‑person meetings with malicious intent.
  • Complexity of motive: multiple plausible motives (escape/fake death, jealousy, sexual/romantic dynamics, coercion, profit) made the prosecutors’ case messy; the trial leaned on cumulative evidence rather than a single neat motive.
  • Cultural context matters: the Yazidi community’s strict marriage rules, diasporic tensions, and family honor dynamics are central to understanding motive claims and background pressures.
  • Media and myth: the “doppelgänger” label captured public imagination but oversimplified nuances; it became a sensational frame even as many facts undermined a tidy narrative.
  • Practical safety reminder: vet strangers online, never go alone to unfamiliar meetups based on DMs, and share location plans with trusted contacts.

Final note

The episode covers a high‑profile, emotionally fraught trial that combined social‑media grooming, violent crime, cultural tensions, and sensationalized press framing. The convictions bring legal closure, but many questions about motive and the dynamics between the accused remain unsettled in public discussion.