A file photo of a woodland crime scene. Photo: DPA

Missing person's bones found hanging in tree 29 years later

Published: 2 Apr 09 16:56 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20090402-18411.html

Bavarian police said on Thursday they have likely identified the bones found hanging more than 30 feet up a tree as those of a man who left a suicide note almost three decades ago and hasn’t been seen since.

Landshut officers had been baffled since Monday afternoon when an 18-year-old hiker noticed bones along a wooded path near Bruckberg and sent a mobile phone photo to police, a statement said.

Police forwarded the photo to a medical expert who determined that they were definitely human bones, and that a piece of metal with the bones was probably part of an artificial hip.

“During a detailed inspection the officers discovered the corpse, which was hanging by cords between 10 and 12 metres high in a spruce tree,” the statement said, adding that there were no clues in the area as to the identity of the corpse.

The following day police enlisted the help of THW, or Federal Agency for Technical Relief, to build scaffolding high enough to recover the body from the tree in an area that was impassable by vehicle.

Police await DNA test results, but after a search through unsolved missing persons cases they believe the bones belong to a 69-year-old man who left a suicide note in July 1980. He was never found.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

Fark It! Digg This Facebook  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This
Today's headlines
Photo: DPA

Hartz IV welfare benefits ruled unconstitutional

Millions of German families on welfare could receive more government assistance after the nation’s highest court ruled Tuesday the controversial Hartz IV system of payments was unconstitutional. READ (11 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Study finds major discrimination against Turkish job applicants

Jobseekers with Turkish names are clearly discriminated against when looking for work in Germany, a study released this week has found. READ »

Photo: DPA

Young literary star Hegemann counters plagiarism claim

Best-selling teenage novelist Helene Hegemann rejected accusations of plagiarism in her debut novel “Axolotl Roadkill” on Tuesday, after it emerged she had taken slabs of text from an anonymous author and blogger. READ »

Photo: DPA

Hamburg politician puts the 'I' in street de-icing

The president of Hamburg's city parliament is reportedly in hot water for ordering authorities to clear the footpaths of ice outside his own home while leaving the rest of the city to slip and slide their way home. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Photo: DPA

Construction worker confesses in Cologne archive collapse case

Eleven months after the deadly collapse of Cologne’s city archive, a construction worker has given investigators their first confession in the case, media reports said on Tuesday. READ »

Photo: DPA

Berlinale highlights shift to 3-D films

Buyers at the Berlin film festival will be seeing triple this year, as 3-D productions such as "Avatar" transform the global cinema industry. READ »

Photo: DPA

Munich and Nuremberg airport workers strike

One day ahead of wage talks with state and municipal employers, public workers' union Verdi called for further temporary strikes on Tuesday – this time at airports in Munich and Nuremberg. READ »

Photo: DPA

Doctors outraged by infant vaccine shortage

Medical experts warned of grave health danger to children on Monday following weekend reports that many important infant vaccinations have not been delivered to German hospitals since late January. READ (3 COMMENTS) »

More Society
Highlights
Photo: Robert Mapplethorpe
LIFESTYLE »
The Best of the Rhineland: This month Rhine-online offers some Karneval insight, uncovers a Mapplethorpe retrospective in Düsseldorf, and dines the Michelin-way in Königswinter.

See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Jobs in Germany, in English

557 jobs in Germany, in English
383 new jobs this week
63 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Latest news from The Local in Sweden
Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
News from DeutschlandOnline
Advertising 2.0
MARKETPLACE - promote your business to half a million targeted readers a month on The Local. Find great products and services in Germany or tell The Local's readers about your own business.
CLICK HERE>>>
Sales managers - country wide
The Local is seeking talented and experienced media sales professionals for our online advertising sales in Germany
FULL JOB DETAILS
Best Foreign exchange rates dealing - all major currencies
Foreign Currency Direct voted as offering the best exchange rates. All currency exchange transactions are managed by Ben Amrany. We guarantee that readers of The Local/Toytown receive a 5 star service
FULL DETAILS HERE>>>
JOB: Nursery Teacher / Early Years Educator
Wolfsburg nursery, specialising in an Early Years Programme, seeks English speaking nursery teacher
FULL JOB DETAILS
JOB: Admin and academic positions
GBCM is currently seeking experienced and ambitious full/part-time staff in the academic field as well as a flexible office manager for roles in an international environment
FULL JOB DETAILS

The Local Europe GmbH
Linienstrasse 214
10119 Berlin
Germany