"Now everything is void": lamenting the death of Valeriia from Döbeln.

A 9-year-old child resides in Döbeln. - Police allege to have targeted two suspects in the murder case of Valeriia.

The following day, a somber atmosphere hovers over Döbeln, a city of 25,000 residents positioned between Chemnitz, Dresden, and Leipzig. Chemnitz Police President Carsten Kaempf stood before the press on Wednesday to deliver the unbearable news: "In light of the lifeless body discovered yesterday, we can sadly confirm that it is nine-year-old Valeriia from Döbeln."

With that announcement, any hope and efforts to locate the missing child were extinguished. Valeriia is deceased. Taken away from life at the tender age of nine. "The loss of a child leaves your heart in pieces," stated the seasoned officer in a broken voice (read the stern-liveblog of the press conference).

For over a week, hundreds of police officers and volunteers have scoured the area around Döbeln, tirelessly searching for Valeriia. She left for school on Monday, and never returned. The previous Tuesday, the police located her body in the underbrush of a wooded region less than five kilometers from her house.

The town of Döbeln is devastated by the news of Valeriia's death. "Our thoughts are with the family who now need all the strength they can muster," explains Mayor Sven Liebhauser. "Döbeln is in pain."

The scope of the grief experienced by an entire city is evident on the sidewalk outside Valeriia's home. Piled high are flowers, candles, letters, and stuffed animals. One, a white note sealed in a clear plastic bag, reads: "Why did they do this to you? You still had so much ahead of you."

Finding serenity may be impossible when a child is killed so brutally, a family is plunged into mourning, and a city is left speechless. The people of Döbeln are banding together in their hour of need. A candlelit vigil is planned for the town square on Friday, with every participant holding a flickering candle. "I urge all Döbelners and Döbelnerinnen to attend," asserts the mayor. A joint church service is also scheduled. The city's funds have created a donation account for Valeriia's family. The festivities planned for the weekend have been canceled. "Döbeln is not in the mood to celebrate. Döbeln is mourning."

It's an unsettling epilogue: Valeriia and her mother had fled Putin's barbaric terror from Ukraine to Germany in 2022, seeking refuge. The mother must now face the gravest loss she could ever imagine. Her husband remains in Ukraine. He too knows that his daughter no longer lives. "We are all keeping the family and their friends in our thoughts," says Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer.

"The investigations are ongoing"

Comprehending the truth behind this tragedy will take time for Valeriia's parents. A trauma counselor, Petra Meyer, sheds light on the process in the stern-interview. The path to recovery for the relatives will be a difficult one. "Parents always accuse themselves. No matter how a child dies. You can't accept it. That's not possible. They seek an explanation and ask themselves: How could I have prevented it? What did I do wrong?"

The mother and father will never discover the answer. They also seek insight from a variety of sources - Valeriia's classmates, her teachers, and their teachers at her school in Döbeln. One suggestion is to create a memorial corner within the school to commemorate Valeriia's memory. Psychologists and psychiatrists are present and ready to offer assistance.

Beyond the sorrow, a different aspect of this atrocity exists. Valeriia's murderer remains at large. Detectives at the Chemnitz police are working around the clock to bring the perpetrator to justice. "We hold responsibility for this case for Valeriia and her family," said Police President Kaempf at the press conference. State Prosecutor Ingrid Burghart has acknowledged "theories about the motive" involved. At this stage, their focus has been on "the social environment" of Valeriia and her mother, which encompasses their acquaintances, friends, and relatives. She refuses to elaborate further, citing "investigative tactical reasons." The authorities remain cagey about disclosing their understanding of the criminal actions.

Allegedly, there are two suspects. The first is reportedly Valeriia's mother's ex-boyfriend, who has since fled to the Czech Republic. Another man with recent ties to the Döbeln area is also considered a potential suspect, but has yet to be found. He allegedly stalked her mother. Upon inquiring, State Prosecutor Burghart comments: "We will not discuss rumors or possible leads. The investigations are ongoing." The authorities are committed to solving the crime against Valeriia. "That is our top priority," pledges Police President Kaempf. "We will not rest until justice is served."

The folks in Döbeln, including students, teachers, and most importantly Valeria's parents, look up to the authorities for possible answers to their pressing questions.

Tragically, there won't be any more playtime in the yard for Valeria. A neighbor said this emotion-filled reaction to RTL journalists, "I see her (Valeria) regularly playing outside. Now, it's all empty."