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== Rebecca Reusch==
== Rebecca Reusch==
At the time of her disappearance, Reusch was a 15 year old high school student and still living with her parents, Brigitte and Bernd Reusch, in [[Britz]], a [[boroughs and localities of Berlin|locality]] within the [[Berlin]] borough of [[Neukölln]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 September 2022 |title=Und wieder ein Geburtstag ohne Rebecca |url=https://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/neukoelln/und-wieder-ein-geburtstag-ohne-rebecca |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=[[B.Z. (newspaper)]]}}</ref> She was visiting the Walter-Gropius-Schule in the nearby [[Gropiusstadt]] locality of Neukölln.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gülmen |first=Metin |date=13 April 2023 |title=Rebecca Reusch: Neue Ermittlungen nach vier Jahren! Was wir wissen – und was nicht |url=https://www.derwesten.de/panorama/vermischtes/rebecca-reusch-berlin-news-polizei-brandenburg-vermisst-schwager-id300487125.html |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=DerWesten |language=German}}</ref> Reusch has two older sisters.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kettenbach |first=Maximilian |date=15 February 2024 |title=„Lolita“-Bild, TV-Auftritte und „verstörte“ Ermittler – Familie Reusch verwundert Kriminal-Experten |url=https://www.hna.de/welt/reusch-vermisst-familie-verstoert-ermittler-experten-berlin-fehler-bild-feste-news-aktuell-rebecca-zr-92824995.html |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=[[Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine]]}}</ref>
At the time of her disappearance, Reusch was a 15 year old high school student and still living with her parents, Brigitte and Bernd Reusch, in [[Britz]], a [[boroughs and localities of Berlin|locality]] within the [[Berlin]] borough of [[Neukölln]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 September 2022 |title=Und wieder ein Geburtstag ohne Rebecca |url=https://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/neukoelln/und-wieder-ein-geburtstag-ohne-rebecca |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=[[B.Z. (newspaper)]]}}</ref> She was visiting the Walter-Gropius-Schule in the nearby [[Gropiusstadt]] locality of Neukölln.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gülmen |first=Metin |date=13 April 2023 |title=Rebecca Reusch: Neue Ermittlungen nach vier Jahren! Was wir wissen – und was nicht |url=https://www.derwesten.de/panorama/vermischtes/rebecca-reusch-berlin-news-polizei-brandenburg-vermisst-schwager-id300487125.html |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=DerWesten |language=German}}</ref> Reusch has two older sisters.<ref name=Kettenbach2024>{{Cite news |last=Kettenbach |first=Maximilian |date=15 February 2024 |title=„Lolita“-Bild, TV-Auftritte und „verstörte“ Ermittler – Familie Reusch verwundert Kriminal-Experten |url=https://www.hna.de/welt/reusch-vermisst-familie-verstoert-ermittler-experten-berlin-fehler-bild-feste-news-aktuell-rebecca-zr-92824995.html |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=[[Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine]]}}</ref>


== Disappearance ==
== Disappearance ==
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[[Berlin Police]] was criticised by a number of media outlets for using a heavily altered image during the search.<ref name=kroenig2019></ref> This image was taken from Reusch's [[Instagram]] account and was altered by the account owner using a [[Filter (social media)|beauty filter]] to create, was has been described as, a [[Lolita (term)|Lolita]] look.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kettenbach |first=Maximilian |date=13 February 2024 |title=„Mimik und Gestik mit den inhaltlichen Aussagen nicht kongruent“: Familie Reusch verwundert Kriminal-Experten |url=https://www.merkur.de/deutschland/mimik-gestik-nicht-kongruent-aktuell-vermisste-rebecca-reusch-familie-experten-verwundert-92824999.html |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=[[Münchner Merkur]] |language=German}}</ref> Although the image is seen as a poor likeness of Reusch and could therefore hamper the search effort, it is widely used by the media itself and has been cited as a factor in the high profile her case has received.<ref name=kroenig2019>{{Cite news |last=Kröning |first=Anna |date=7 March 2019 |title=Warum fahndet die Polizei mit dem Instagram-Foto nach Rebecca? |url=https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article189862233/15-Jaehrige-aus-Berlin-Warum-fahndet-die-Polizei-mit-dem-Instagram-Foto-nach-Rebecca.html |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=[[Die Welt]] |language=German}}</ref> As of 2024, this altered image is still the only portrait of Reusch used by the police in the search.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2023 |title=Seit vier Jahren vermisst |url=https://www.berlin.de/polizei/polizeimeldungen/pressemitteilung.786693.php |access-date=15 February 2024 |website=berlin.de/polizei/}}</ref>
[[Berlin Police]] was criticised by a number of media outlets for using a heavily altered image during the search.<ref name=kroenig2019></ref> This image was taken from Reusch's [[Instagram]] account and was altered by the account owner using a [[Filter (social media)|beauty filter]] to create, was has been described as, a [[Lolita (term)|Lolita]] look.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kettenbach |first=Maximilian |date=13 February 2024 |title=„Mimik und Gestik mit den inhaltlichen Aussagen nicht kongruent“: Familie Reusch verwundert Kriminal-Experten |url=https://www.merkur.de/deutschland/mimik-gestik-nicht-kongruent-aktuell-vermisste-rebecca-reusch-familie-experten-verwundert-92824999.html |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=[[Münchner Merkur]] |language=German}}</ref> Although the image is seen as a poor likeness of Reusch and could therefore hamper the search effort, it is widely used by the media itself and has been cited as a factor in the high profile her case has received.<ref name=kroenig2019>{{Cite news |last=Kröning |first=Anna |date=7 March 2019 |title=Warum fahndet die Polizei mit dem Instagram-Foto nach Rebecca? |url=https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article189862233/15-Jaehrige-aus-Berlin-Warum-fahndet-die-Polizei-mit-dem-Instagram-Foto-nach-Rebecca.html |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=[[Die Welt]] |language=German}}</ref> As of 2024, this altered image is still the only portrait of Reusch used by the police in the search.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2023 |title=Seit vier Jahren vermisst |url=https://www.berlin.de/polizei/polizeimeldungen/pressemitteilung.786693.php |access-date=15 February 2024 |website=berlin.de/polizei/}}</ref>

Media also reflected on the strained relationship between Reusch's family and police.<ref name=Kettenbach2024></ref> While the police expressed their frustration at the perceived lack of cooperation, Reusch's family criticised the strong focus of the police on Reusch's brother-in-law, whom they believe to be innocent.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kettenbach |first=Maximilian |date=15 February 2024 |title=„Mimik und Gestik mit inhaltlichen Aussagen nicht kongruent“: Kriminal-Experten verwundert über Familie Reusch |url=https://www.fr.de/panorama/kongruent-aktuell-vermisste-rebecca-reusch-familie-experten-verwundert-mimik-gestik-nicht-92825014.html |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=[[Frankfurter Rundschau]] |language=German}}</ref> Josef Wilfling, long-time head of the Munich homicide squad, used his experience from the [[Death of Sonja Engelbrecht|Engelbrecht case]] to explain that talking with relatives is a difficult and conflict-prone balancing act for homicide investigators.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bach |first=Solveig |date=15 February 2020 |title=Ein Jahr nach ihrem Verschwinden - Rebeccas Familie hält sich an die Hoffnung |url=https://www.n-tv.de/panorama/Rebeccas-Familie-haelt-sich-an-die-Hoffnung-article21577636.html |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=[[n-tv]]}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 17:39, 15 February 2024

Rebecca Reusch
Picture of Rebeccas Reusch used by her family on the missing person poster
Born(2003-09-21)September 21, 2003[1]
Berlin, Germany
DisappearedFebruary 18, 2019 (aged 15) [2]
Britz, Berlin, Germany
StatusMissing for 5 years, 8 months and 12 days
NationalityGerman

The Disappearance of Rebecca Reusch is an unsolved missing person case from Berlin, Germany. Rebecca Reusch was last seen alive on the evening of 17 February 2019. She did not turn up at school the next day and was reported missing by her parents on the afternoon of 18 February.[3] No body has been found, but police believe that she was killed.[4]

Rebecca Reusch

At the time of her disappearance, Reusch was a 15 year old high school student and still living with her parents, Brigitte and Bernd Reusch, in Britz, a locality within the Berlin borough of Neukölln.[5] She was visiting the Walter-Gropius-Schule in the nearby Gropiusstadt locality of Neukölln.[6] Reusch has two older sisters.[3]

Disappearance

17 February

Rebecca Reusch spent the evening of Sunday, 17 February 2019, with her eldest sister. This sister lived with her husband and daughter in a house near her parents. She was available that evening as her husband was at a party with work colleagues. Reusch planned to sleep on the couch in the living room and go direclty to school on Monday morning.[7]

18 February

Reusch's brother-in-law returned from the party at around 05:45 and went to bed. At 07:00, the sister left the house with her daughter to go to work. At 07:15, Reusch's mother tried to call her daughter, but only reached voicemail. An analysis of Rebecca's mobile phone shows that it was last logged into the home network at 07:46. At 08:25, the mother called a second time, but again only reached voicemail.[8] When she then called her son-in-law, he initially blocked the call. He did, however, try to call her back a short time later. On the phone, he told her that Reusch was no longer in the house. At 08:42, Reusch's mother sent her a WhatsApp message. It was delivered, but was no longer opened.[9]

At some point between 07:00 and 07:46, Reusch must have send a Snapchat photo to a friend of hers. Since Snapchat photos are automatically deleted after they are opened, the exact time it was taken is unknown. This message is seen by that friend at 08:15. In the photo, she is said to be wearing a BTS hoodie, a pink plush jacket, ripped jeans and black trainers and standing in a corridor.[7]

At 09:40, Reusch fails to turn up for school. When she doesn't return home in the afternoon, her parents reported their daughter missing.[4] Some of Reusch's personal belongings also appeared to have gone missing, including the clothes she was wearing in the Snapchat photo that morning, her school rucksack, a bag, her purse, her mobile phone and a pink Polaroid camera. A purple blanket from her sister's household was also missing.[7]

Investigations

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30km
20miles
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Key locatons in the search[10]
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Reusch's last known location on 18 February
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Sighting of Reusch's brother in law on 18 and 19 February
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Police search on 7-9 March
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Police search on 16-29 March
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Police search on 18-19 March
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Police search on 25 March

Reusch's parents reported their daughter missing to the police on 18 February and began searching for her themselves. On 21 February, the police officially declared her missing and on 23 February, the case was already handed over to the homicide squad.[3] On 28 February, police arrested Reusch's brother-in-law for questioning but had to release him again on 1 March.[3] He was arrested again on 4 March, but released for a second time on 22 March. On 6 March 2019, Michael Hoffmann from the Landeskriminalamt Berlin appeared on the ZDF programme Aktenzeichen XY ... ungelöst to reach possible witnesses of Reusch's disappearance.[11] During March 2019, forests and lakes in the vicinity of the A12 motorway were searched intensively, but no further clues to Reusch's whereabouts were found.[4] In April 2023, the police searched the home of Reusch's brother-in-law.[12]

Main suspect

Police and prosecution have stated several times that Reusch's brother-in-law was and remains the main suspect in the investigation.[13] The police bases their assessment on a series of investigative finds, several of which contradict the statements made by her brother-in-law.[14] The suspect was the only person known to have been in the house with her that morning. This is significant as this was the last time Reusch's mobile phone was ever connected to an access point. The police have stated several times that they do not believe Reusch left the house alive that day.[15] Furthermore, he initially claimed to have slept that morning. However, police were able to establish that he had accessed pornographic websites that featured bondage and strangulation material.[16]

Police could also establish that the suspect was driving on the A12 motorway from Berlin in the direction of Frankfurt (Oder) both in the morning of 18 February and in the late evening of 19 February. He did not provide any reason for his journeys. However, Reusch's father, who supports his son-in-law, told RTL in an interview: "The whole thing is connected to something else, but I'm not allowed to say". This led to speculation in the media as to whether the trips toward Poland were connected to drug trafficking. Statements made by the suspect's sister in an interview also suggest this explanation.[17]

This trip on the A12 motorway has also been connected to a witness statement according to which a raspberry-red Renault Twingo was seen in a wooded area near Kummersdorf on 18 February.[18] This description matches the vehicle used by the suspect. The statement was further supported by the testimony of two female horse riders who had seen a conspicuous man there around midday. The wooded area was then searched, but no relevant leads were found.[19]

Internet acquaintance

Both family and friends of Reusch have voiced suspicion about an internet acquaintance, a boy Reusch's age.[20] It was suspected that Reusch may have secretly met up with him on 18 February. The suspicion against him was seemingly substatiated as he deleted his social media profiles shortly after the case became public. However, the public prosecutor's office has confirmed that police followed up on the lead and were ultimately able to rule him out as a suspect.[21]

Other leads

After her disappearance, a witness came forward who claimed to have seen Reusch in the late morning of 18 February 2019. According to her, Reusch was walking in the street in the neighbourhood of Reusch's sister. She recalled that the girl had a blanket with her, even though it had rained the day before and the ground was still wet and therefore not suitable for a picnic. Reusch would have made a grim face as she walked past her. However, the weather records from 17 February contradict the witness's statement, as it was completely dry that day.[7] Other witnesses claimed to have seen Reusch at a nearby bus stop and on a number 171 bus during the course of 18 February 2019. However, the police analysed the surveillance cameras near the bus stops and were unable to confirm these sightings.[22]

Media coverage

The disappearance of Rebecca Reusch has attracted a substantial of media attention in Germany and triggered wide speculation. It has been described as "one of the most puzzling criminal cases in Germany",[23] or "one of the most spectacular missing persons cases in Germany".[24] Missing persons expert Peter Jamin called it the "most highly publicised case in Germany" and added: "Only the case of Maddie McCann has caused a bigger sensation."[25]

On 6 March 2019, the case was presented in the show Aktenzeichen XY ... ungelöst. Photos of the main suspect were also shown there. ZDF presenter Rudi Cerne spoke of the "case that is keeping the whole of Germany [...] busy".[26][4] After the broadcast, over 300 tips were received from the public, totalling over 700 by 7 March 2019.[27] By 13 April 2023, the police had received a total of over 3,000 tips.[28]

External image
image icon [1] Altered image of Reusch as used by the Berlin Police in the search

Berlin Police was criticised by a number of media outlets for using a heavily altered image during the search.[29] This image was taken from Reusch's Instagram account and was altered by the account owner using a beauty filter to create, was has been described as, a Lolita look.[30] Although the image is seen as a poor likeness of Reusch and could therefore hamper the search effort, it is widely used by the media itself and has been cited as a factor in the high profile her case has received.[29] As of 2024, this altered image is still the only portrait of Reusch used by the police in the search.[31]

Media also reflected on the strained relationship between Reusch's family and police.[3] While the police expressed their frustration at the perceived lack of cooperation, Reusch's family criticised the strong focus of the police on Reusch's brother-in-law, whom they believe to be innocent.[32] Josef Wilfling, long-time head of the Munich homicide squad, used his experience from the Engelbrecht case to explain that talking with relatives is a difficult and conflict-prone balancing act for homicide investigators.[33]

See also

References

  1. ^ "18. Geburtstag von Rebecca Reusch: Emotionaler Geburtstagsgruß der Eltern an die Vermisste". rtl.de (in German). 2021-09-23. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  2. ^ "Vermisstenmeldung auf Rebeccas Profil". Instagram. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  3. ^ a b c d e Kettenbach, Maximilian (15 February 2024). "„Lolita"-Bild, TV-Auftritte und „verstörte" Ermittler – Familie Reusch verwundert Kriminal-Experten". Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine. Retrieved 15 February 2024. Cite error: The named reference "Kettenbach2024" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d "Vermisst, aber nicht vergessen: Die Chronologie im Fall Rebecca Reusch aus Berlin". rtl.de (in German). 2021-02-18. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  5. ^ "Und wieder ein Geburtstag ohne Rebecca". B.Z. (newspaper). 21 September 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  6. ^ Gülmen, Metin (13 April 2023). "Rebecca Reusch: Neue Ermittlungen nach vier Jahren! Was wir wissen – und was nicht". DerWesten (in German). Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Lena Niethammer, Miriam Arndts. "Im Dunkeln – Der Fall Rebecca Reusch | Ein Podcast". Podimo (in German). Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  8. ^ "Vermisst, aber nicht vergessen: Die Chronologie im Fall Rebecca Reusch". rtl.de. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Seit einem Jahr vermisst: Der Fall Rebecca und die Puzzle-Teile eines spurlosen Verschwindens". bz-berlin.de. 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  10. ^ Siebert, Philipp; Nejezchleba, Martin; Anker, Jens (2 March 2023). "Der Fall Rebecca Reusch: Ein Jahr quälende Ungewissheit". Berliner Morgenpost (in German). Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  11. ^ Schilling, Anna (14 February 2024). "Rebecca Reusch ist vor fünf Jahren verschwunden - die Chronik des Falls". Volksstimme (in German). Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  12. ^ Tanzmann, Aaron (15 April 2023). "Rebecca Reusch: Durchsuchung nach vier Jahren – was soll das bringen? Experte mit deutlichen Worten". derwesten.de (in German). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  13. ^ Nyarsik, Hedviga (13 April 2023). "Warum der Schwager nicht aus dem Visier der Ermittler gerät". n-tv (in German). Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  14. ^ Kettenbach, Maximilian (6 February 2024). "Fall Rebecca: Warum die Polizei weiter den Schwager jagt – und dabei eine "riesige Blamage" droht". Münchner Merkur (in German). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Ermittler glauben, dass Rebecca das Haus ihres Schwagers nie verließ". Die Welt (in German). 11 March 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  16. ^ HD (2023-05-23). "Rebeccas Schwager googelte nach Fesselsex-Pornos". berliner-kurier.de. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  17. ^ "Hat Rebeccas Schwager in Polen Drogen gekauft?". bz-berlin.de. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  18. ^ Kopietz, Andreas (13 April 2023). "Vermisste Rebecca Reusch: Berliner Polizei hat offenbar neue Ermittlungsansätze". Berliner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  19. ^ Lanzinger, Jennifer (20 December 2020). "Vermisste Rebecca: Zeugin spricht über unheimliche Begegnung im Wald - „dann beschleunigte er den Schritt"". Münchner Merkur (in German). Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Rebecca Reusch: Freunde enthüllen neue Details über Chat-Freund – bedrückender WhatsApp-Verlauf aufgetaucht". merkur.de (in German). 2020-12-10. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  21. ^ "Viele Hinweise entpuppen sich als Sackgasse: Rebecca Reusch seit zwei Jahren vermisst: Das sagt der Staatsanwalt zum Stand der Ermittlungen". rtl.de (in German). 2021-02-19. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  22. ^ Norbert Koch-Klaucke (2021-10-01). "Lebt Rebecca noch? Jetzt spricht die Berliner Staatsanwaltschaft". berliner-zeitung.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  23. ^ Warum der Schwager nicht aus dem Visier der Ermittler gerät n-tv.de, 13. April 2023, abgerufen am 3. Mai 2023.
  24. ^ Der Fall Rebecca Reusch: Neues Video aufgetaucht, abendblatt.de, 13. April 2023, abgerufen am 3. Mai 2023.
  25. ^ Vermisstenfall Rebecca: Experte prangert „eklatanten Fehler“ der Polizei an und nennt Schlüsselmomente, fr.de, 2. Mai 2023, abgerufen am 3. Mai 2023.
  26. ^ Aktenzeichen XY vom 6. März 2019, youtube.com
  27. ^ Neue Suchaktionen geplant – 700 Hinweise werden geprüft, welt.de, 7. März 2019, abgerufen am 3. Mai 2023.
  28. ^ Erneute Durchsuchung im Fall der vermissten Rebecca, welt.de, 13. April 2023, abgerufen am 3. Mai 2023.
  29. ^ a b Kröning, Anna (7 March 2019). "Warum fahndet die Polizei mit dem Instagram-Foto nach Rebecca?". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  30. ^ Kettenbach, Maximilian (13 February 2024). "„Mimik und Gestik mit den inhaltlichen Aussagen nicht kongruent": Familie Reusch verwundert Kriminal-Experten". Münchner Merkur (in German). Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  31. ^ "Seit vier Jahren vermisst". berlin.de/polizei/. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  32. ^ Kettenbach, Maximilian (15 February 2024). "„Mimik und Gestik mit inhaltlichen Aussagen nicht kongruent": Kriminal-Experten verwundert über Familie Reusch". Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  33. ^ Bach, Solveig (15 February 2020). "Ein Jahr nach ihrem Verschwinden - Rebeccas Familie hält sich an die Hoffnung". n-tv. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
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