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Investigation ongoing after tragic death of a child

The senior public prosecutor talks about potential reasons behind nine-year-old Valeriia's demise, adding that they're also considering her "immediate social surroundings" during the ongoing probe.

More than 400 police officers were deployed in the search for the Ukrainian girl.
More than 400 police officers were deployed in the search for the Ukrainian girl.

Döbeln is the subject of this piece. - Investigation ongoing after tragic death of a child

Yesterday, two days after the grim discovery of nine-year-old Valeriia's body in a forest close to Döbeln, the investigation unit is steadily on the lookout for the identity of her murderer(s). This process entails determining traces, engaging with witnesses, and analyzing statements, according to the Chief Prosecutor, Ingrid Burghart.

Burghart mentioned that they don't suspect any sexual misconduct, stating, "The girl was dressed." As for the cause of death, she remained guarded as to not potentially reveal information on the perpetrator. "We have motive theories. That's why we're also searching her immediate social circle. But I can't disclose any details at this moment in time," she added.

As per Bild's research, the focus of the inquiry seems to revolve around two men. One is the ex-boyfriend of Valerias mom, supposedly situated in the Czech Republic. Reputedly, he reached out to Valerias mother on the morning of her disappearance. His phone is said to have connected with a tower in Döbeln, and he's also been spotted by a security camera at a nearby house by some reports. The second man is around 55 years old, indicated to have been stalking Valerias mother before. The prosecutor refused to comment on this detail with the German Press Agency.

The ongoing debate revolves around why the police took so long to search the area where Valerias body was found. A witness claimed to have heard screams on the day of her vanishing, which they reported to the police later on. The police couldn't pinpoint this at first and located the body approximately 2 kilometers away. The family eventually mentioned their frequent visits to the woods at the knoll stones, which prompted an extension of the search, culminating in the discovery of the deceased girl in the thicket on Tuesday afternoon.

Burghart's team is also examining a possible misconduct by the school. They neglected to contact Valerias mom as was required when she was absent from class on Monday of the previous week. An annual report from the State Office for Education and Culture is pending, following which a decision will be made regarding any potential criminal offenses. The background pertains to a possible breach of child protection and supervision. The educational body accepted their error and is taking appropriate measures against it, indicated to have potential legal ramifications.

Read also:

  1. The crime scene was located in Sakony, specifically in Döbeln, where the investigation is currently underway.
  2. The men's involvement in the case is being closely examined by the homicide squad, including the ex-boyfriend of Valeriia's mother in the Czech Republic.
  3. At the public prosecutor's office, the determination of the cause of the child's death is a top priority, but details are being kept confidential to avoid revealing information about the perpetrator.
  4. The police have confirmed the discovery of a body, believed to be Valeriia's, in a forest near Döbeln, prompting a widespread search for clues.
  5. Two days have passed since the grim discovery, and the police are still investigating, engaging with witnesses and examining the girl's social circle for potential leads.
  6. Ingrid Burghart, the Chief Prosecutor, has mentioned that they are considering various motives for the homicide, but are unable to disclose any specific details at this time.
  7. The immediate family of the victim and the school where Valeriia attended are also under investigation, with suspicions of negligence or breaches of child protection and supervision.
  8. Emergency services were eventually alerted to the area following the family's disclosure of their frequent visits to the woods at the knoll stones.
  9. The Case of the young girl's tragic death has become a major focus of attention in Germany, with the public and media eagerly awaiting updates on the investigation and the progress towards finding the perpetrator.

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