Missing 13-Year-Old Girl Found Dead in Abandoned German Building
A 13-year-old Berlin girl missing for five days was found dead in an abandoned German building, with a critically injured suspect found nearby. Police launched a murder investigation.
A five-day search for a 13-year-old girl in Germany ended in tragedy on Sunday when police discovered her body in an abandoned building in Altglietzen, Brandenburg, roughly 50 kilometers from her Berlin home near the Polish border.
German police and prosecutors launched a murder investigation after finding the body of Lisa Tạ alongside an unidentified man suffering from severe injuries. Authorities suspect the man attempted suicide and transferred him to a hospital under heavy police guard in critical condition. The gruesome discovery occurred around noon when the property owner noticed an open door at the abandoned farm building and alerted law enforcement.
Neighbors Report Suspicious Activity
According to local media reports, residents near the abandoned property told homicide detectives they heard muffled cries for help coming from the building in the days leading up to the discovery, though no one contacted the police. Another witness reported seeing a suspicious gold-colored Opel with Berlin license plates parked outside the farm on the day of the disappearance, its hazard lights flashing for hours before vanishing the following morning.
Lisa was last seen alive on Tuesday morning leaving her family's home in Berlin for school. When she failed to arrive, police mobilized roughly 220 officers, canine units, and a police helicopter. Her family consistently rejected theories of a voluntary runaway, with her 17-year-old sister Linda emphasizing that running away was completely out of character.
Investigation Ongoing
The Berlin police homicide department took over the case on Friday after initial findings pointed to a serious crime. Investigators are currently withholding the suspect's identity while probing any prior connection between him and the victim. An autopsy has been scheduled at the Institute of Forensic Medicine to determine the exact cause and time of death, as well as to investigate potential sexual assault.
