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Gottenheim near Freiburg: Mourning for the dead 14-year-olds
Photo: Philipp von Ditfurth / dpa
Deprivation of minors, sexual assault and murder with intent to cover up - this is the suspicion against a 29-year-old from Hesse in the case of the dead Ayleen from Baden-Württemberg.
According to the information, the man is in custody and is no stranger to the authorities – even as a teenager he was noticed for a sexual offense.
He has a criminal record and was under the care of a specialist for a long time.
The investigators refer to clear evidence: During a search of the apartment near Wetzlar, objects were found that point to 14-year-old Ayleen.
"There is an urgent suspicion," said the head of the Freiburg public prosecutor's office, Dieter Inhofer.
"We're just at the beginning," added the lawyer, referring to the investigation.
"It's going to take weeks."
The schoolgirl from the municipality of Gottenheim near Freiburg is said to have driven to Hesse in the man's car on the evening of her disappearance, i.e. on July 21, said chief criminal director Arno Englen of the Freiburg police.
Did the 14-year-old, who was described as shy, step in voluntarily or was she forced?
That is one of the many unanswered questions in the complicated criminal case.
Investigations were also still being carried out on the exact route, said Englen.
contact via the Internet
With the help of mobile phone tracking and technical surveillance, investigators came across the girl's body at the end of last week.
She was found in Teufelsee in the Wetterau district north of Frankfurt am Main, almost 300 kilometers from her home town.
How did the student die?
There is no certainty about this either.
Since the body lay in the water for several days, the forensic pathologist's work is made more difficult.
According to the information, a first autopsy did not bring any definitive findings.
Ayleen and the suspect knew each other and, according to investigators, had been in contact via the Internet for weeks.
The teenager was active in social networks and an online game - like many teenagers.
The authorities now have to evaluate huge amounts of data on communication.
Until recently, the suspect was under the supervision of the authorities.
He was in a program for sex offenders at risk of recidivism, said the head of the Hessian State Criminal Police Office, Andreas Röhrig.
The man was convicted at the age of 14 by the Wetzlar district court for attacking an eleven-year-old girl, including attempted sexual abuse.
He was then housed in a forensic prison for ten years.
In 2017 he was released and put under supervision.
This was lifted after five years on January 25, said Röhrig - that is the norm in Hesse.
The program includes, for example, threat speeches, close supervision and contact talks.
The suspect initially denied the accusations in Fally Ayleen and is now silent, according to the authorities.
The investigating Freiburg prosecutor Franziska Scheuble said there was an urgent suspicion of a sexual offence.
However, she cannot provide any further information at this time.
Ayleen left home around 6 p.m. on July 21 and has been missing ever since.
A major police search, including with dogs and police helicopters, yielded no results.
Police announced the 14-year-old's death on Saturday.
There was no chance of finding the girl alive, said Freiburg police chief Franz Semling.
»This is bitter for everyone who gave everything and has to be processed first.«
Candles were burning in front of the Gottenheim town hall on Monday.
Citizens added sunflowers and roses.
The horror in the idyllic wine-growing community with almost 3000 inhabitants is great.
The family can contact a care team around the clock.
“The worst that can happen in such a case has happened.
All of Gottenheim is in shock," said Mayor Christian Riesterer.
wit/dpa