13-year-old Ashley found safely after extensive search!

13-year-old Ashley found safely after extensive search!

On Saturday, March 15, 2025, the disappearance of the 13-year-old Ashley from a youth welfare facility in Niederwörresbach was reported. Their absence led to intensive searches and a public search. The situation seemed worrying, since in the case of missing minors there is basically a danger to life or life. This is one of the central tasks of the police, which quickly becomes active in such cases to find the affected children and adolescents.

On the evening of April 5, 2025, the police were finally able to give the all -clear: Ashley was found safely in the Neunkirchen area in Saarland. The public investigation was withdrawn with this positive turn. At the same time, the police thanked the population for their support and help during the search for the young, who quickly came to a happy end in this case. Media representatives were also asked to delete Ashley's photo.

background for missing persons

The procedure for missing cases is clearly regulated. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) was founded in 1951 and is responsible for processing such cases in Germany. This includes the search for missing persons and the identification of unknown corpses. The BKA points out that a person is considered missing if they are inexplicably absent. Especially in the case of minors, there is a danger of what determines the procedure of the local police departments.

In 2025, around 9,420 missing cases were recorded in the police (Inpol) information system, with 200 to 300 new searches. About 50 % of cases clarify within the first week. However, the police can only intervene if certain criteria are met. If there is no danger for the person concerned, reference is often made to other institutions that are supported in such cases.

The declining number of the missing young people between the ages of 14 and 17, who fluctuated between 69,400 and 87,300 in recent years, shows that the measures for education and prevention are successful. In 2024, around 80,800 young people were reported missing, with the educational rate with impressive 97.4 %.