Dehai News

The body of a six-year-old child was found in Weilburg, central Hesse. It is believed to be Pawlos, who has been missing for weeks.

The lifeless body of a child was recovered from a river in Hesse on Sunday. "It is very likely that this is the six-year-old boy from Weilburg who has been missing since March 25, 2025," police said. A canoeist discovered the dead child on the evening of Easter Sunday at the overpass of Federal Highway 456 over the Lahn River and notified investigators. An emergency doctor could only confirm the boy's death.

The boy appears to be six-year-old Pawlos, who has been missing for weeks. The autistic boy had run away from his special needs school, where he was in first grade, for no apparent reason. A large-scale search began on the day of his disappearance, involving hundreds of emergency personnel and volunteers at times.

This included a nationwide public search using thousands of digital display boards, primarily at train stations, airports, and motorway service stations. The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) also participated in the search. However, these measures did not lead investigators to the crucial lead.

During the weeks-long search, investigators also discovered a video showing a man who apparently had contact with Pawlos. It shows the six-year-old and the man on a street in Weilburg . The man reportedly saw Pawlos by chance on a busy street before his disappearance was reported and led him from the roadway onto the sidewalk.

"Pawlos was able to run away while the man called the police emergency number and described his observation," police reported. The patrols immediately dispatched were unable to locate the child.

Hesse's Minister-President Boris Rhein (CDU) expressed his sadness at the discovery of the body. "The news of little Pawlos' death saddens me," he wrote on X late last night. "My thoughts are with his family. My heartfelt thanks go to all those who helped."