Kinder-Leiche in der Donau bei Vohburg: Interview zum Stand der Ermittlungen
Child's body in the Donau near Vohburg: Interview on the status of the investigation
The dead boy "had probably been in the water for several weeks", according to a police spokesman in an extensive interview with our editors.
On 19 May, the wrapped body of a four to six year old boy was found in the Donau near Großmehring, between the Ingolstadt and Vohburg barrages. Since then, the police have been conducting intensive investigations in all directions -
a homicide has still not been ruled out. "The body was probably in the water for several weeks," the police head office of Upper Bavaria North told our newspaper. Forensic examinations are still underway and are expected to provide further information. The identity of the boy and the circumstances of his death are still unclear. There are also no answers to other important questions. What is the current state of the investigation in this sensational case? In a comprehensive interview with our editorial staff, a police spokesperson explains and summarises.
After the discovery of a wrapped child's body in the Donau between Großmehring and Vohburg, the investigations are running at full speed, as has been explained several times. An investigation group called Fluvis has been formed. How many people does this investigation group currently consist of? Are they all police officers? What exactly is meant by "investigations are in full swing"?
"The core of the Fluvius investigation group consists of nine police officers who are working intensively on this case and are carrying out or initiating all necessary measures to clarify it. They are joined by specialists from other departments and authorities whenever necessary. One example is the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (LKA). During the searches on and in the Donau, up to 45 police officers were deployed at peak times. In addition, the police were supported by forces from other emergency organisations such as the Ingolstadt fire brigade and the Ingolstadt technical relief organisation."
How and with what was the body packed when it was discovered by the canoeist?
"It is correct that the boy's body was wrapped at the time it was found. Further details in this regard cannot be made public for investigative tactical reasons, since these details are the knowledge of the perpetrator."
At first, it was not even clear that human remains were involved. Soon it was reported, citing forensic medical examinations, that it was a boy who lived to be four to six years old. Are there any more detailed findings on this in the meantime?
"The autopsy of the body was carried out at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Munich on 20 May 2022, the day after it was found. This was carried out as a priority and as quickly as possible. In addition to determining the sex, forensic medicine also succeeded in narrowing down the age of the boy.
The body had probably been in the water for several weeks. Further information, for example on the boy's origin, is currently not available. The forensic medical examinations have not yet been completed."
From the beginning, it was important for the investigators to clarify the identity of the child. Are there any concrete findings on this yet? Has the boy's identity been clarified in the meantime?
"There are no findings on the boy's identity so far."
In this context, cases of missing persons on record from all over Germany and from neighbouring countries are being checked. In the region, it was explained, there is in any case no corresponding case. Is that correct?
"It is correct that there is currently no police-known missing person case in the area of the Upper Bavaria North Police Headquarters that can be linked to the discovery of the body. Cases of missing persons are still being investigated throughout Bavaria and Germany. In addition, enquiries are made to foreign authorities. Europol, among others, is also involved here."
Initially, it had been reported that in 16 open cases of missing persons throughout Bavaria, which could be significant for this case, the closer circumstances of the disappearance and possible connections are being examined. In the meantime, it has been added that these 16 cases could be narrowed down to nine possibly relevant cases. Is there any more recent information on this? What is the status of the review of missing persons cases from other federal states? How is the investigation of missing persons cases from neighbouring countries progressing? Have there been any concrete findings in this regard?
"There is currently no new information on the nine Bavarian cases that are still being examined. Some of the enquiries have not yet been answered, which is necessary in order to be able to evaluate the respective case. Results that have emerged as a result of database queries in Germany and abroad must be checked with regard to the body found in the Donau and subsequently, at least in part, also individually compared with the responsible departments. "
To what extent can one narrow down to date where the packed corpse had entered the Donau? Where exactly was it found then?
"At the moment, only the place where the body was found in the Danube can be determined with certainty. It is located at Großmehring between the Ingolstadt and Vohburg barrages.
Expert opinions or reports that narrow down the location of the dumping - for example by taking into account current speeds or water levels - are still pending."
Several times it was stated that further forensic examinations are underway. Have further concrete findings emerged in the meantime, for example on the circumstances of death and the cause of death? When, how, where and how did the boy die? Are there any more detailed findings on this in the meantime? When, where, how and why did the body get into the water? These questions also need to be answered. Are there any findings in this regard yet?
"So far, no new findings have emerged on these questions."
Time and again it has been said that investigations are underway in all directions and that a homicide has not been ruled out. Is that still true? And simply asked: What is the case currently being investigated for?
"Yes, that still applies. Since the causes that led to the boy's death have not yet been determined, the investigators are thinking in all directions. The goals are to find out the circumstances of the death, but also the identity of the boy.
Since the beginning of the investigation, the criminal police measures have been so far-reaching that they can be used as evidence in any kind of investigative procedure. The fact that the cause of the child's death has not yet been determined does not inhibit the nature and extent of the measures to be taken by the criminal police."
How many tips have been received from the public so far? Have there been any concrete leads or even a hot lead?
"So far, around 40 tips from the public have been received by the Ingolstadt Criminal Investigation Department. Some of them are still being examined. At the moment, no breakthrough and thus no hot lead for the investigation is emerging from these reports."
The police are still asking for information from the public. What is particularly important to the investigators?
"Since it cannot be ruled out that especially walkers, water sports enthusiasts, anglers or cyclists have made observations in the area of the Donau that are connected to this case, the investigators are also turning to this group of people:
Who has made observations in the area of the Donau between the barrages Ingolstadt and Vohburg since the beginning of spring that could be of importance for the investigators? We could think of conspicuous vehicles on the banks, boats, but also persons who have behaved suspiciously on bridges, for example." Information can be obtained from the Ingolstadt police at (08 41) 93 43 - 0 or from any other police station.
BBM
