Grief in Döbeln - Authorities seek the killer of Valeriia.
What's the mystery surrounding the death of 9-year-old Valeriia in a forest near Döbeln? This query is being probed by the authorities. A few more clues emerged on Thursday as additional evidence was collected, testimonies were recorded, and investigations were scrutinized, as per Senior Public Prosecutor Ingrid Burghart.
She hesitated to unveil specific details on the investigation methods or the cause of death, for fear of alerting potential culprits. "We've got some theories about the motive," revealed Burghart. "We're also exploring her closer social circles. However, I can't share that information at the moment." The authorities suspect that the young girl hadn't been sexually assaulted. "She was dressed.", Burghart added.
Apparently, Bild investigators had spotted Valeriia's mother's former partner in their radar. This person is believed to be in the Czech Republic. He reached out to her mother on the day of Valeriia's disappearance, according to Bild. His cell phone pinged a Döbeln tower, and he was caught on camera at a neighbor's place. The Chemnitz Prosecutor's Office remained tight-lipped about this piece of information.
Coordination with Czech authorities
The Czech Republic Police Presidium in Prague acknowledged receiving communication from their German counterparts and were vigorously collaborating on this case. "We can confirm that we've been in touch with our German colleagues and are working closely on this investigation", said Commissioner Violeta Siristova. "We won't expose our collaboration strategies, but we're completely committed to resolving this."
Valeriia's murder has left the more than 24,000 residents of Döbeln reeling from shock. Mourning elements, such as candles, plush toys, pictures, angels, and flowers, have been placed near her home by grieving citizens. A note at the site read, "Why did this happen to you?", signifying her premature end. The city administration cancelled the planned weekend city festival and held a memorial event on Friday evening on the market square.
At Valeriia's school, they're dealing with the sudden, tragic loss of a classmate. Ten school psychologists have been present since early morning on Thursday and will be utilized wherever necessary in the classrooms. Teachers, school leadership, and the school principal have mutually agreed on the suitable mourning and commemoration plan. Future arrangements include setting up a memorial corner in the school.
Valeriia had been missing since June 3. It wasn't until Tuesday that a body was found in a forest, and the police and prosecutors confirmed on Wednesday that it was indeed the little girl. A crime had been committed, the case is being investigated for potential manslaughter and murder. The prosecution is assuming that forest is the crime scene.
Delay in forest search
There's ongoing confusion about the reason the police hadn't investigated the woods earlier. On the day of Valeriia's disappearance, a witness reported hearing screams on the outskirts of the city. This was initially hard to pinpoint and the information was deemed too vague, reported the investigators. It wasn't until the family informed the police that they enjoyed spending time at the knoll stones in the woods that the search area was expanded there.
The authorities are also exploring possible misconduct by the school. The school failed to notify the mother as required when Valeriia didn't show up at school on Monday of the previous week. This led to a delay in noticing her absence. A pending report from the State Office for Education and Culture will clarify if there are any initial suspicions of criminal offenses. A potential breach of child care and supervisory duties is believed to have occurred. The educational authority admitted this failure and is dealing with the misconduct. The consequences could involve labor law implications.
