Emergencies - The Arian case - about a futile search full of hope
When Arians father cannot find his son anywhere on this evening in late April, he immediately alerts the police. The response teams are full of hope that they can quickly discover the young boy in the city of Bremervörde, Lower Saxony.
Hundreds of forces from the fire department, police, and German Red Cross are on standby. Search dogs, drones, and boats are in action, along with numerous volunteers. Later, the Bundeswehr also joins in. In vain. Over two months after his disappearance, there is now the sad certainty: Arian is no longer alive.
The dead child, found by a farmer during farming activities on a meadow in the Landkreis Stade, is the missing boy. This was determined by a DNA match, as the police report - after long waiting for the results of the forensic examination. Now there is clarity about Arian's fate. What caused his death, investigators refuse to reveal to protect the family. A crime they rule out based on the autopsy results.
Search also where a later corpse is found
After Arian's disappearance on April 22, the police speak directly of a very serious situation. "The whole story is dramatic," says police spokesman Heiner van der Werp, looking at the nighttime temperatures of sub-zero degrees Celsius. The police assume that the child left his home independently - in socks and lightly clothed. "The boy had only recently learned how to open locked doors," reported the police spokesman at the time. "That could be the background."
What complicates the search: Arian is autistic and cannot speak. A spokesman for the Bremervörde city fire department, Bastian Kynast, reported on April 23 that such a young autistic child is likely to be frightened and difficult to find. To attract the boy's attention, response teams set off fireworks, play children's songs, hang balloons, and sweets. But no one finds him.
The command center quickly establishes which areas should be checked in what order. "To ensure that every square inch is searched," explains Kynast. In the days following Arian's disappearance, the response teams search large areas - also where, over two months later, Arian's body is found. The area is located about three kilometers from his home.
Response teams are concerned and hopeful
The Arian case is close to the hearts of many response teams. "Of course, you have to remain professional, but that's huge," says Kynast, after spending the night as part of the communal command center.
The police release photos and hope that the boy with dark blonde hair and brown eyes will be recognized. In one photo, he is wearing the orange, long-sleeved shirt he was last seen wearing. The missing person case has now become known beyond the region, and many people are concerned for the child. The response teams know that it is a race against time. They do not want to give up hope of finding Arian alive.
"Would do anything to find Arian"
We wanted to do everything humanly possible to find Arian and bring him home if possible, said police spokesperson Heiner van der Werp at the end of April. He too is disappointed that the child was not found. "We were almost able to promise that we would find him, and we couldn't keep that promise." After about a week of intensive search, the police called off the large-scale operation. The decision is made by the police chief in consultation with the Interior Ministry - after the search teams had reportedly searched an area of over 7500 soccer fields according to police reports.
Farmer after discovery of a corpse: "I knew right away that it was the boy"
Then the investigation team continues to work on the case. The police team examines numerous clues, follows tracks, and formulates hypotheses about what could have happened to Arian. On certain days, search teams or volunteers gather for the search. But the boy remains missing.
When a farmer discovered a child's corpse while mowing a meadow at the end of June, many people immediately thought of Arian. The farmer is also convinced that it is the missing boy. He recognized Arian's shirt, he tells a dpa reporter on site. "I knew right away that it was the boy."
- The police in Bremervörde, Lower Saxony, are actively searching for Arian, who has been missing since April 22, in the District of Stade.
- The German Red Cross, fire department, and police have joined forces in the operation, using search dogs, drones, and boats, among other resources.
- The disappearance of Arian, who is autistic and cannot speak, is particularly challenging due to his inability to communicate or respond to calls.
- The farmer who discovered a corpse during farming activities in June recognized it as Arian's due to the orange, long-sleeved shirt he was last seen wearing.
- An autopsy was conducted on the child's corpse, and the results ruled out any indication of a crime.
- In the midst of the emergency response, the police released multiple photos of Arian in the hope that someone might recognize him and provide vital information.
- The German Armed Forces, or Bundeswehr, also contributed resources to the search for Arian, which extended to over 7500 soccer fields.
- DNA analysis from the corpse and Arian's family confirmed that it was, indeed, Arian, bringing a terrible end to the prolonged search and investigation.
