Berlin, Germany – Nearly seven years after the disappearance of Rebecca Reusch, a Berlin schoolgirl who vanished in February 2019, German authorities continue to investigate the case, focusing their attention on her brother-in-law.
Rebecca Reusch was last seen on February 18, 2019, after spending the night at her sister’s home in Berlin. Police believe she was the victim of a homicide, though her body has never been found. The case has captivated Germany for years, drawing comparisons to the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann due to the intense media scrutiny and public interest.
Recent searches, conducted by a homicide unit, have centered on multiple properties in Brandenburg, including a house belonging to the grandparents of Rebecca’s brother-in-law. While authorities have remained tight-lipped about specific findings, a spokesperson for the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office stated, “To protect the investigation, no information can be provided on this matter.”
The investigation initially focused heavily on the brother-in-law, who was the last known person to see Rebecca. He was briefly arrested twice, once shortly after her disappearance and again two weeks later, but released each time due to a lack of conclusive evidence. According to reports, investigators found fiber traces and hair belonging to Rebecca in his car. However, these findings were not enough to secure a conviction.
The timeline of events remains a key point of investigation. Rebecca spent the evening of February 17, 2019, with her sister, whose husband was at a work party. Rebecca reportedly planned to sleep on the couch and go directly to school the following morning, which had a delayed start. Investigators now believe Rebecca did not leave her sister’s house alive.
Data from Rebecca’s mobile phone indicates her last known location was at her sister’s home. Surveillance footage captured the brother-in-law’s car traveling on the A12 highway between Berlin and Poland shortly after Rebecca sent her last Snapchat message.
The latest phase of the investigation, launched in October 2025, involved searching properties in Tauche, Brandenburg. Authorities were looking for any objects, traces of evidence, or other materials that could shed light on Rebecca’s fate, with a particular focus on the possibility that her body had been brought to the grandparents’ property. Handbills featuring a photograph of a red Renault Twingo, believed to be the vehicle driven by the brother-in-law on the day of Rebecca’s disappearance, were distributed to local residents.
The case continues to be a priority for German law enforcement, with investigators meticulously following leads and analyzing data in the hope of finally bringing closure to Rebecca Reusch’s family. The use of license plate recognition systems, like Germany’s KESY, has become a crucial element in reconstructing the events surrounding her disappearance, providing a detailed timeline of vehicle movements and potentially uncovering critical clues.
