"Arian's Body Suggests No Signs of External Manipulation"
Farmer Uncovers Presumed Remains of Missing Arian, Ending Months-Long Hunt
While it's yet to be definitively confirmed, the authorities suspect that the lifeless kid discovered by a farmer could be that of the missing Arian. The corpse was transported to a medical institute for a postmortem examination, as per the police statement. The autopsy results are anticipated to be disclosed by the end of the week. There are no apparent signs of external trauma, shared a police spokesperson.
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On a bleak Monday afternoon at around 4:30 p.m., the farmer unearthed a tragic find during his routine tasks. He had noticed something odd, hadn't worked that area, and contacted the police, according to a police press release. One of his colleagues had spotted something and stated, "There's something there". The farmerValidate then headed to the location and noticed a T-shirt that Arian was expected to wear. "I immediately knew it was him", the man said.
The meadow where the discovery was made lies in Behrste, a part of Elsdorf, and falls within the search area for Arian. Elm, Arian's hometown, is roughly two kilometers away, belonging to Bremervoerde in Lower Saxony. The area was exhaustively scrutinized by the search teams on multiple occasions, as per a police spokesperson. The farmer confirmed this: "They were everywhere."
It remains unclear how the body, allegedly, was concealed for an extended period. The police are working on uncovering the mystery. The discovery site was visible following the harvesting work, on the edge of the meadow. According to the statements made by the farmer, the grass there was only about ten centimeters high in April.
The six-year-old autistic Arian left his parent's residence unattended on the evening of April 22nd around 7:15 p.m. His parents reported the incident to the police right away, triggering a massive search that began that same night. The next day, the police also enlisted public support and appealed for tips.
24th April
The search for the autistic boy is expanding at a rapid pace. Hundreds of response personnel from fire departments, emergency services, and police are involved. Police helicopters, drones, and tracking dogs are helping to search the unmanageable field and forest area around Elm. Investigators have confirmed that recordings from a private surveillance camera show Arian leaving his parent's residence alone.
25th April*
Following a potential clue regarding Arian along the Oste river flowing through Elm, the search teams are focusing their efforts in an area reaching up to the twelve-kilometer distant community of Kranenburg. Hundreds of ponds and other water bodies are being inspected, with 250 soldiers of the Federal Armed Forces reinforcing the search teams. Colorful balloons and sweets are placed at various locations in and around Elm to attract Arian.
26th April
The search teams resume the search for Arian afresh from the very beginning and examine every nook and cranny in and around Elm. Munitions containers and the sewage system are also inspected. Arian's parents pen a letter to the residents of the region. "We believe that Arian has embarked on a grand adventure," they write.
28th April
Nighttime searches are conducted in small groups and quietly in the forests by soldiers, keeping a vigil for Arian. The command center continues to assume that he might be hiding. In the morning, a large-scale search operation takes place: 800 response teams form a continuous search line that is about 1.5 kilometers long. Additional helpers are active on the ground and in the air, a total of approximately 1200.
29th April
A week after Arian's disappearance, the comprehensive search is temporarily halted. A team from the police is set up to coordinate "triggered" subsequent measures. Lower Saxony's Minister President Stephan Weil thanks the numerous helpers. He speaks of an "impressive example of empathy and solidarity".
8th May
After a tip about an object floating in the Oste river that flows through Elm, response teams from the police and fire departments re-examine parts of the river. The focus of the activity is approximately 30 kilometers from Arian's hometown, but nothing is found. A few days later, another large-scale systematic search takes place along the middle course of the Oste river.
23rd May
One month after Arian's disappearance, the police scour the entire Oste river between Elm and the river's mouth into the Elbe over a distance of 70 kilometers. 18 drone teams are in action, with the focus of the activity on scarcely visible and inaccessible riverbanks. This is the final search operation.
23rd June
A farmer discovers a child's body on a meadow north of Elm. It is thought to be Arian.
