The failure proved to be utterly devastating for Matthäi. The police and all other outsiders were finally convinced that no other killer existed and that Matthäi's quest had been borne solely of his own madness.
The failure was extremely detrimental to Matthäi. The police and other individuals outside his immediate circle were convinced that there was no other suspect, and that Matthäi's relentless search had been driven by his own mental illness.