Germany Germany - Katrice Lee, 2, Schloss Neuhaus, Paderborn, 28 Nov 1981 *Arrest*

A former serviceman who was arrested in connection of a toddler who went missing in Germany 38 years ago has been released without charge.

Katrice Lee, from Hartlepool, disappeared from a supermarket near a British army base in Paderborn in 1981.

Royal Military Police said an arrest had been made in the Swindon area on Monday.

The man has now been released without charge. Police continue to search an an address in Swindon.

Man arrested in 1981 missing toddler case released

 

Isn't being "arrested" in the UK different than being arrested in the US? I found this article but I am not sure if it's considered MSM. It does a good job though of explaining the differences.

What It’s Like To Be Arrested in the U.K.

 

I often roll that article out - explains the differences pretty well and yes, it's a very different process.

Disappointing this latest arrest hasn't led to a charge.

 

That’s what I’ve never been able to get my head around.

We left Germany in 79 and I was only 4 so although I have no memories of that NAAFI, I know I’ve been in there. I’ve certainly been in plenty of other NAAFIs in my time though, and it’s just not the sort of thing that happened.

It’s hard to explain to a civvie what life “on camp” was like, but it wasn’t like the real world. Yes, you had to look under your car for bombs before you got in it but children didn’t go missing. Bad things didn’t happen.

It still breaks my heart even after all these years, and I’ve had a knot in my stomach all day hoping that something would come of this arrest. I now want to cry that yet again it’s nothing.

 

You can become a verified insider,and confirm information.

 

Doesn't one have to be a servicemember, family member, or verified personel, ( with specific I.D.) to get on base,or shop there?

 

It depends whereabouts it was. If it wasn’t “behind the wire” then anyone could shop there, forces would’ve just needed a special ration card to buy certain things. Lots of British military bases employed German civilians in a variety of roles; they would have been able to come and go too (please note, I’m not implying anything just giving background).

 

Yet.

Just because someone's been released without charge doesn't mean they might not be charged later. Note that police were still searching the house when Mr X was let go. Note the police statement:

Katrice Lee: Former serviceman released without charge

 

Lots of the bigger NAAFIs, including this one, were “outside the wire”. They’re not in the main grounds of camp and you wouldn’t need to show ID to get into them.
Checkout staff sometimes ask if they don’t recognize you, but usually only if you’re buying alcohol or rationed items like cigarettes or coffee.

 

Thank you. Interesting.

 

I'm thinking (hoping) they have got the right man, possibly as a result of the tip off from the ex-colleague, but don't want to use up the 96 hour clock until they've got more info and/or evidence.

 

I hope so this must be so stressful for Katrice’s family it is inhumane how much they are suffering.

 

Here is a Sky News report about the further developmenst in this case:

Katrice Lee: Ex-serviceman arrested over toddler's disappearance released without charge

And here is a BBC report:

Man arrested in 1981 missing toddler case released

 

Heartbreaking that in just a minute she was gone. It really sounds like the Bulger case,in that someone was waiting for an opportunity.

 

Police seem to be using ground-penetrating radar ( or something similar) in the back garden they are searching.

Missing Katrice Lee's dad believes she could still be alive 37 years on

 

Here is a report from the Telegraph:

Father of missing Katrice Lee believes she is still alive as arrested man is released without charge

Here is a report from the Mirror:

Dad of Brit toddler missing since 1981 tells of 'hell' as arrest made

This one from the Sun:

Missing Katrice Lee's dad believes she could still be alive 37 years on

And this one from ITV:

Ex-serviceman arrested over disappearance of Katrice Lee in 1981 released without charge

 

I just don’t understand arresting someone and then releasing them a few hours later why on earth would they do that to a victims family after all these years? It must be devastating.

 

I agree it must be. These case are terrible for the victims as seen by the fact the father still has hopes she is alive. There must be some reason behind it. I do not know but perhaps they hoped for a confession. An added problem is unfortunately the police or LE do not always get the right person at first but you would have thought they must have their suspicions with the person held.

 

I think British laws are very strict about keeping somebody in jail before charging and prosecution.
Just speculation because I'm not sure at all...