As of: February 21, 2024, 7:19 p.m
By: Maximilian Kettenbach
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Criminal scientist Christian Matzdorf firmly believes that the Rebecca Reusch case will be solved.
His reasons for this sound plausible, but what really speaks for it?
Berlin – “We have already seen spectacular cases in which a whole cascade was set in motion by new impulses,” explains Christian Matzdorf, criminal scientist at the Berlin School of Economics and Law.
If only there was a new witness
If we were to report, “that could trigger a domino effect that leads to new results,” he tells us in an interview.
Case analyst Axel Petermann sees it very similarly: “There can still be a solution.
In the end, people are always involved.
And we don't know whether they won't correct their statements in a few years.
Or there are already traces that can only be evaluated using new methods.”
Rebecca Reusch has been missing for five years
Two experienced investigators, two almost identical approaches.
On the fifth anniversary of her disappearance, on February 18, 2024, the Rebecca Reusch case is not only affecting the police and public prosecutor's office.
But also long-time observers of the missing person mystery.
A video that suddenly appeared is also causing a stir; it was apparently recorded in the neighborhood of the missing Rebecca.
Rebecca did not show up at school on February 18, 2019.
Her brother-in-law Florian R. was last in the house with her and quickly came under suspicion.
He was arrested twice and released from custody both times.
Because the evidence wasn't enough.
Nevertheless, the police and public prosecutor's office are primarily investigating in one direction: against Florian.
He is presumed innocent.
In our five-part series on the disappearance of Rebecca Reusch, we recently spoke to former investigators, prosecutors and observers of the case.
Unfortunately, the Reusch family was not available for a statement.
We reported on controversial discussions about mistakes made by investigators and family.
But what has to happen to solve the case?
How can the puzzle in the missing Rebecca Reusch case be put together?
Christian Matzdorf, who investigated violent crimes for the Berlin State Police for 30 years, does not view the Rebecca Reusch case as a cold case.
“It is an ongoing investigation, the investigation is in motion, even if this is not known to the public.” He compares the investigative work here to a large puzzle.
“However, numerous pieces of the puzzle fit together with various others.
This means that new theories can be generated again and again and the existing ones have to be reflected and re-evaluated.
This can also mean that evidence or evidence that previously seemed insignificant can suddenly have a completely different relevance.” Then the puzzle has to be put together again for many reasons.
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Christian Matzdorf is a professor of criminology with a focus on forensic science at the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin).
There he heads the forensic science center and the university's crisis team.
He is also a board member and press spokesman for the German Society for Criminalistics (DGfK).
He was in the Berlin State Police for over 30 years.
© private
The perpetrator or perpetrators may make mistakes, or he or she may re-evaluate their situation for moral reasons, for example, or confide in someone.
“The 2023 search was another clear signal that there are still further opportunities to increase the pressure.
I am convinced that the case will be solved sooner or later,” says Matzdorf, who is still in contact with those involved in the case.
I am convinced that the case will be solved sooner or later
Crime professor Christian Matzdorf
“I feel that she is still alive” – the Reusch family continues to hope for Rebecca’s return home
The Reusch family doesn't want to lose faith in it either.
They hope that one day they will embrace Rebecca alive again.
“I feel that she is still alive,” said mother Brigitte in April 2023.
“We celebrate celebrations together, as long as we can still celebrate them after Rebecca’s disappearance.” Brother-in-law Florian is always there.
The Reusch family stands by him, which, from the investigators' point of view, leads to the investigation being blocked.
“As long as we don't know 100 percent that Florian has something to do with Becci's disappearance, we are presumed innocent,” says Brigitte Reusch.
The investigators have apparently given up hope for a happy ending.
“The public prosecutor's office will never rule out finding the girl's body,” says the senior public prosecutor and head of the capital crimes department in Berlin, Ralph Knispel.
He is also the chairman of the Association of Berlin Prosecutors.
His namesake Martin Knispel is leading the investigation into the Rebecca case.
Little is heard from the official side.
The
Spokesman for the Attorney General's Office tells
IPPEN.MEDIA
: “The file is not closed, new leads are being investigated.
However, there are currently no new leads from the investigation.”
Axel Petermann was a murder investigator before he became a profiler at the turn of the millennium.
The case analyst, confirmed by the police, has been advising the investigators since then.
Until 2014. Then he retired.
However, criminal cases continue to bother him.
His books based on true cases put him on the Spiegel bestseller list.
© Ralf Gemmecke
Petermann warns investigators of “embarrassment” in the Rebecca case
Axel Petermann was a murder investigator for years, then became a profiler.
He still has hope and explains the reluctance: “I strongly assume that they will continue collecting.
You seem to be convinced that you know who the perpetrator is.
You will want to continue investigating calmly in order to collect enough clues and evidence that point to your brother-in-law as the perpetrator.”
The investigators should be on the lookout for a “huge embarrassment,” as Petermann calls the worst-case scenario – namely if the brother-in-law had to be released from custody for the third time without being charged.
“The fact that you need solid evidence to convince a judge to convict a person of a crime they have committed is part of the rule of law and that is a good thing,” Petermann notes.
The 3rd Homicide Squad of the State Criminal Police Office will receive information by calling (030) 4664-911333 or by email at lka113-tipp@polizei.berlin.de.