Eight‑year‑old Fabian’s body was found in a forest near Klein Upahl, 15 kilometres west of Güstrow on 14 October, ending a three‑day search that began when he vanished on 10 October.
Police Theory on Fabian’s Death
German police stated that Fabian’s father lived nearby and was in a separation with the mother. According to Bild, the father’s relationship with Fabian had recently resumed normal contact. A local witness saw the boy and alerted authorities. Police preliminarily said that the child’s death could have involved third parties.
Search Operations and Witness Alerts
Fabian was reported missing on the evening of 10 October after failing to return home at the agreed time, prompting his mother to file a missing‑person report. Search teams focused on the area around Inselsee lake south of Güstrow and the forests near Zehny, deploying several thousand volunteers, search dogs, and divers.
Family and Community Mourning
After the search concluded, Fabian’s parents were notified and received care from specially trained medical staff. Residents of Güstrow gathered for a memorial Mass in the local church, initially praying for a safe return of the child. The Ostsee Zeitung quoted a local resident asking why the name Fabian had been chosen, and Mayor Sascha Zimmermann expressed his thoughts with the family, relatives, and friends. Neighbors also arranged tribute stands with candles and plush toys beneath the church.
Mother’s Emotional Video Appeal
In a night‑time video posted by Fabian’s mother, she pleaded, “Fabian, please return home to my mother!” She expressed her desire to hold him in her arms and her encouragement that nobody would blame him, urging him to come home. The recording was shared by the mother during the search campaign.
