Eight and a half years ago, the world was shaken by the mysterious disappearance of five-year-old Inga in the remote Wilhelmshof district of Stendal. Now, the police are revisiting the case with fresh eyes and unwavering determination. Last Thursday, they conducted excavations on a private property, using shovels, spades, and even a mini-excavator. Their efforts yielded a few small bones, some of which were questionably human. Despite the discovery, no distinctive bones such as skulls or pelvises were found. The public prosecutor's office in Stendal, headed by Thomas Kramer, now awaits the results of the forensic examinations to shed some light on these enigmatic fragments.
Recent media reports highlighted a privately organized search involving specialized dogs, which uncovered potential indicators of human remains near Uchtspringe, a district of Stendal. The search team, eager to contribute to the ongoing investigation, sought to share their findings with the local authorities.
Five years ago, Inga, from Schönebeck near Magdeburg, went missing during a family outing in Wilhelmshof. Despite extensive searches, technology, sniffer dogs, and more than 1,500 emergency personnel, Inga's whereabouts remained a tantalizing mystery. The case saw more than 2,000 leads and clues being followed up, but to no avail. Ponds were drained, bodies of water examined, and buildings searched numerous times. Regrettably, Inga was never found.
Earlier this year, the Halle police station took charge of the investigation into Inga's disappearance. Saxony-Anhalt Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang (CDU) implemented a new cold-case management system, which brought specialized teams to reevaluate long-standing homicide and missing persons cases.
The Inga Gehricke case has garnered national attention, with German courts and media scrutinizing the investigation and other matters related to criminality and missing persons. Local authorities must navigate complex cases, aiming for justice and public protection.
[1] "Eight years of investigation: Police excavate in Stendal in the Inga Gehricke case" (German). Stern. 2023-03-31. [2] "Police identify suspect in Inga Gehricke case; investigation ongoing" (German). focus.de. 2023-03-30. [4] "Police search abandoned military site in missing person's case" (German). tagesspiegel.de. 2023-03-30.
