Six-Year-Old Found Wandering Alone After Abduction at Theme Park

In a disturbing incident at the Europa-Park in Rust, Baden-Württemberg, a six-year-old girl was lured away from her family by an unknown man and subsequently found traumatized hours later. The suspect, identified as a 31-year-old Romanian national, is currently evading authorities and is believed to have fled the country.

The events unfolded on a Saturday evening when the young girl lost sight of her parents at the Rulantica water park. Reports indicate that the suspect approached the child, offering assistance around 8:20 PM, and led her away on foot toward the east, allegedly through a wooded area towards a nearby gravel pit.

According to law enforcement officials, the alleged crime took place in this wooded region. The suspect then reportedly abandoned the girl, leaving her to navigate the dark surroundings alone. Following the incident, the child wandered northward past the gravel pit, eventually being discovered by a passerby near Grafenhausen at approximately 10:20 PM. At that time, she was still wearing her swim attire, which included a light blue bikini top and pink swim shorts.

The Rulantica water park can accommodate up to 5,000 visitors daily, raising concerns about safety protocols in such crowded environments.

Authorities began their investigation three days after the event, gathering sufficient evidence to link the crime to the Romanian suspect residing in Lahr, approximately 13 kilometers from the theme park. In his residence, police reportedly found clothing matching descriptions from the day of the incident, although the suspect's passport was missing, while the passports of family members were located.

Despite the progression of the investigation, law enforcement has not yet issued a public appeal for information regarding the suspect. Officials emphasized that the decision not to release a photograph of the suspect does not reflect skepticism about the victim's account. They stated that such a step would only be taken when they are confident in the evidence, as once a picture is released, it cannot be retracted.

As the investigation continues, local authorities urge anyone with information to come forward. The focus remains on ensuring the safety of children in public spaces and preventing such tragic events from occurring in the future.