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Sad certainty in Döbeln: Nine-year-old Valeriia is dead. Her father is now on his way to Germany.
Döbeln – Accompanied by music, around 900 balloons rose into the sky: On Friday evening (June 14), around 2,500 people in Döbeln remembered the murdered Valeriia. They laid flowers and candles. The father of the nine-year-old was apparently on his way from Ukraine to Germany on Saturday (June 15).
Valeriia’s father hopes for answers – background and motive of the crime still unclear
He had already addressed possible kidnappers with an emotional video message days ago. Since Wednesday, however, there has been sad certainty: the missing Valeriia is dead. She did not arrive at school on the morning of June 3rd and disappeared. Hundreds of emergency services had been searching for her for around a week. On Tuesday (June 11th), her body was found in the undergrowth of a forest south of Döbeln – the tip-off from a witness who had heard screams was crucial.
The father hopes to get answers from the police in Germany, according to a report by Bild.de. However, the investigation is still in the middle of the investigation. On Friday, a suspect was arrested in Prague. The 36-year-old is to be extradited to Germany. The motive and background of the crime are still unclear. “The investigation will of course continue over the weekend,” the spokeswoman for the Chemnitz public prosecutor’s office told the dpa on Saturday upon request.
Missing Valeriia is dead – father wants to take her body to Ukraine
“I want to take my daughter home and bury her there, in Ukraine. I will not leave her here,” the father said to Bild.deHe believes that his child is now in a better place. “I have to believe it,” he added.
Valeriia fled to Germany with her mother in 2022 to escape the war in Ukraine. Her father is fighting for his country. After the nine-year-old disappeared, he was released from duty, the report continues. He had originally hoped to be able to search for his child himself. A missing persons expert, however, heavily criticized the search efforts. (mbr)