On February 18, 2019, 15-year-old Rebecca Reusch disappeared in Berlin. She spent the night at her older sister’s home in Berlin’s Britz district and was expected to go to school the next morning. She never arrived.
More than seven years later, Rebecca has still not been found. The case remains one of Germany’s most closely followed missing-person investigations, with police investigating the possibility that she became the victim of a homicide.
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The Morning Rebecca Disappeared
Rebecca Reusch, aged 15 at the time of her disappearance, lived with her parents in Britz. She had stayed overnight at the home of her elder sister and brother-in-law on February 17, 2019. Her sister left the house early that morning, while Rebecca was expected to get ready for school. Her device was logged into the Wi-Fi network at her sister’s home at 7:46 a.m., making it the ultimate recorded digital footprint. When she failed to turn up, concern quickly grew.
Her family reportedly attempted to contact her, but her phone was eventually switched off. Rebecca’s disappearance was reported to police, and investigators began searching for her. Within days, the case took a more serious turn. On February 23, Berlin’s third homicide division took over the investigation after authorities could no longer rule out that Rebecca had been the victim of a crime.
The Renault Twingo
One of the most important pieces of the investigation became the family’s raspberry-red Renault Twingo. According to Berlin police, the vehicle was recorded by an automatic number-plate recognition system on the A12 motorway on February 18. It was recorded again on the same motorway the following evening, on February 19. According to their investigation at the time, Rebecca’s brother-in-law was the only person with access to the vehicle during those periods.
The vehicle’s movements became particularly significant because they appeared inconsistent with some of the accounts given to investigators, subsequently making him the central suspect in the case. He was arrested twice in the early stages of the investigation, but was released both times because investigators did not have sufficient evidence to keep him in custody. He has not been convicted or charged in connection with Rebecca’s disappearance.
Source: Police searching for missing teen Rebecca Reusch scour grandparent’s home
A Search That Produced No Answer
Police conducted extensive searches in Berlin and Brandenburg, but Rebecca was never found. Investigators have repeatedly stated that they believe she did not leave her sister’s home alive, although the absence of a body has left important questions unanswered. Berlin police have continued to treat the investigation as a suspected homicide rather than closing it as an ordinary missing-person case.
Thousands of tips have been submitted over the years. By 2024, more than 3,000 pieces of information had been processed. Rebecca’s disappearance has also prompted members of the public to conduct their own searches, sometimes generating additional reports for investigators. Several objects that Rebecca was believed to have had with her were also missing, including a white hoodie featuring the K-pop band BTS, black-and-white Vans shoes, a beige-and-pink handbag, a red backpack, a Polaroid camera and a fleece blanket.
New Searches in Brandenburg
The case received renewed attention in October 2025 when investigators carried out searches at properties in Brandenburg. On October 20, police searched a property in the municipality of Tauche, as part of an investigation into a suspected homicide. The following day, officers searched a nearby forest area in Herzberg with technical assistance from the Federal Criminal Police Office. The searches were based on information obtained during the investigation.
Investigators secured traces during the operation. However, police emphasised that it would take time to determine whether those traces were connected to Rebecca’s disappearance. They also received 50 additional public tips following a renewed appeal for information. The searches did not produce a confirmed discovery of Rebecca.
Source: Even six years after her disappearance, the mystery of Rebecca remains unsolved
Where Does the Case Stand?
As of September 2026, Rebecca’s whereabouts remain unknown. Rebecca would have turned 23 on September 21, 2026. Recent reporting from Brandenburg notes that it remains unclear what happened to her and whether she is alive or was the victim of a crime. Her brother-in-law remains the principal suspect in the investigation, but no court has established his responsibility for Rebecca’s disappearance. The investigation therefore remains active and classified as an open homicide case.
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