Latest Developments in the "Inga" Missing Person Case: Police Pursue New Leads
Nearly a decade after five-year-old Inga Gehricke vanished without a trace in the secluded Wilhelmshof district of Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt, the local police force is redoubling its efforts in the case. In a recent push to uncover new leads, excavations have commenced on a former military site, as announced by Halle police spokesperson.
With shovels, spades, and a mini-excavator at the ready, the investigators are delving into the uncharted territory, following up on a tip-off that has yet to be disclosed. Inga, last seen on May 2, 2015, during a family visit in Wilhelmshof, has remained a missing person enigma, despite extensive searches and nearly 2,000 leads and clues examined.
The Halle police station took over the case evaluation and analysis in April, marking the implementation of a new cold case management system initiated by Saxony-Anhalt Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang. The objective was to provide an unbiased look at the once-handled-by-Stendal police investigation.
Exploring Possibilities
The ongoing investigation into Inga's disappearance has been plagued by numerous twists and turns, with recent connections to Christian Brueckner, a prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case. Brueckner was previously under scrutiny in connection to Inga's disappearance, his home searched a year after her vanishing act in Stendal.
In February 2025, around 50 officers returned to the forest near Wilhelmshof for yet another search, revitalizing the investigation nearly a decade on. Police efforts have remained unwavering, conducting further searches in other locations, including in 2024.
Recently, Brueckner's former cellmate, Laurentiu Codin, testified in court that Brueckner confessed to abducting a child in Portugal. Unfortunately, the specifics of the confession remain unclear, casting doubt on its connection to Inga's case.
However, despite these developments and the passage of time, a concrete resolution to the Inga Gehricke missing persons case in Stendal continues to elude the local authorities.
