Berlin Girl, 13, Found Dead: 22-Year-Old Suspect Critical

A 13-year-old Berlin schoolgirl named Lisa, missing since the morning of 3 November 2026, was found dead on Sunday, 8 November, in an abandoned single-family house in Altglietzen, part of Bad Freienwalde in Brandenburg, about 50 kilometres northeast of Berlin and near the Polish border. Beside her body, police found a severely injured 22-year-old man who is now the prime suspect in her abduction and killing.

What Happened to Lisa?

Lisa left her family home in Berlin-Marzahn at around 07:15 on 3 November to take a bus to school. Her sister said she was texting a friend when contact abruptly stopped just three minutes after leaving home. She never arrived at school. That afternoon, Berlin police published a missing-person notice, and her mother issued a public appeal on social media, writing: 'Mama hopes you come home safe and sound. Mama misses you so much.'

Over the following days, neighbours distributed flyers and police deployed a helicopter and search dogs. On Saturday, 7 November, more than 200 officers went door-to-door in Marzahn-Hellersdorf. On Sunday, a police chief said investigators were considering the possibility of a crime. The case echoes other missing children investigations in Germany that rely heavily on public tips and door-to-door searches.

Coincidental Discovery in Altglietzen

The breakthrough came by chance. According to German media, the owner of a vacant house in Altglietzen reported that unauthorised people had entered the property. When officers arrived, they found Lisa's body and the 22-year-old suspect with a life-threatening gunshot wound. Police believe the injury was self-inflicted and that he attempted suicide as they entered. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and remains under police guard in intensive care.

'It was ultimately pure coincidence that this break-in led to her discovery,' a spokesperson for the Berlin public prosecutor's office told German media.

Suspect Already Known to Police for Child Abuse Images

The 22-year-old German suspect comes from the same Marzahn-Hellersdorf district as Lisa. He has no prior convictions, but prosecutors said he had been under investigation since January 2025 for acquiring and possessing child sexual abuse material. In a March 2025 search of his Berlin apartment, investigators seized more than 900 incriminating files, reportedly linked to payments on the darknet platform Kidflix. A second investigation was taken over from prosecutors in Passau, Bavaria, in April 2026 after further suspected items were found on his mobile phone.

The suspect is believed to have acted alone. Investigators said there is no evidence that he and Lisa knew each other, and prosecutors described her as a random victim. This pattern is consistent with concerns raised in other child sexual exploitation online investigations across Europe.

Autopsy and Ongoing Investigation

An autopsy has been performed on Lisa's body, but no clear cause of death has yet been established, and investigators have not said when she died. Further toxicology and forensic tests are underway. Police have searched the abandoned house in Altglietzen and the suspect's apartment in Berlin, and have also examined nearby woods.

Berlin's Fifth Homicide Squad and Brandenburg police are leading the investigation into kidnapping and homicide. Authorities say there is currently no evidence of a second perpetrator, though some reports note that witnesses saw a gold-coloured car with Berlin licence plates near the site.

Community Grief and Safety Implications

News of Lisa's death has shaken Berlin. Classmates are receiving psychological support at her school, and mourners have left flowers and candles near her home in Marzahn. The case has renewed debate about how police and communities respond to missing teenagers and about the monitoring of known offenders.

The suspect's prior investigation for child abuse material, despite no criminal record, has raised questions about the effectiveness of early intervention. Experts say the case highlights the need for stronger coordination between German child protection agencies and law enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Lisa from Berlin?

Lisa was a 13-year-old schoolgirl from Berlin-Marzahn who disappeared on 3 November 2026 and was found dead on 8 November 2026 in Altglietzen, Brandenburg.

Where was Lisa found?

She was found in an abandoned single-family house in Altglietzen, part of Bad Freienwalde in Brandenburg, about 50 kilometres northeast of Berlin near the Polish border.

Who is the suspect?

A 22-year-old German man from Marzahn-Hellersdorf. He has no prior convictions but was under investigation for child abuse images and is in critical condition after an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

What is the cause of Lisa's death?

The autopsy has not yet established a clear cause of death. Further tests are being carried out.

Did Lisa know the suspect?

No. Investigators found no evidence of a prior relationship and believe Lisa was a random victim.