Bella S., 3‑year‑old from Preetz found dead in pool

Bella S. Preetz drowning pool police search

Police in Schleswig‑Holstein launched a large‑scale search on Wednesday after three‑year‑old Bella S., an autistic girl, left her home in Preetz near Kiel. The operation involved police, firefighters, volunteers, a helicopter, drones, search dogs and other equipment, with up to 1,200 helpers taking part.

On Thursday morning, rescuers discovered a dead child in a pool on the family’s property. Police said the body is very likely Bella’s. An autopsy later confirmed the cause of death as drowning and found no evidence of foul play. Investigators later admitted that the pool had only been superficially inspected on Wednesday and was only thoroughly searched later on Thursday night.

The police scheduled a press conference at 11:00 a.m. in Kiel to update the public. A death‑investigation procedure has been opened, and authorities continue to examine how the child entered the pool and whether any negligence occurred.

Entities

Bella (3) · Bella S. · Eutin readiness police · Family pool · German police · Kiel · Kiel Police Directorate · Kiel police · Michael Bimler · Oberstaatsanwalt Michael Bimler · Plön district · Police Directorate Kiel

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 28 SOURCES] Police found a dead child in a pool on Thursday morning in Preetz, likely the missing girl. www.nordbayern.de · www.rtl.de · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · www.nachrichten-heute.net · newsflash24.de · +17 more
[● 27 SOURCES] Police indicated they do not suspect a criminal motive in Bella's disappearance. www.rtl.de · newsflash24.de · www.nn.de · www.n-tv.de · www.fehmarn24.de · +17 more
[● 28 SOURCES] Up to about 1,200 volunteers participated in the search. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.rtl.de · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · newsflash24.de · www.nn.de · +17 more
[● 28 SOURCES] Bella S., a three‑year‑old autistic girl, disappeared on Wednesday afternoon from her home in Preetz, near Kiel. www.nordbayern.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.rtl.de · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · www.nachrichten-heute.net · +17 more
[● 21 SOURCES] Police said the case reminded them of the 2024 disappearance of six‑year‑old Arian from Bremervörde, which also ended with the child's body being found. www.nordbayern.de · www.rtl.de · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · newsflash24.de · www.nn.de · +13 more
[● 28 SOURCES] Police launched a large search involving police, firefighters, volunteers, a helicopter, drones, search dogs and other equipment. www.nordbayern.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.rtl.de · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · www.nachrichten-heute.net · +17 more
[● 28 SOURCES] Police scheduled a press conference at 11:00 a.m. at the Police Directorate in Kiel. www.nordbayern.de · newsflash24.de · www.nn.de · www.n-tv.de · www.fehmarn24.de · +17 more
[● 14 SOURCES] An autopsy of the child is pending, with results expected by Friday. www.rtl.de · www.berlin-live.de · www.n-tv.de · blaulichtmyk.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · +7 more
[● 5 SOURCES] The pool at the family's property had been searched multiple times before the body was discovered. www.krone.at · www.berlin-live.de · www.n-tv.de · www.rtl.de · www.halternerzeitung.de
[● 11 SOURCES] Autopsy confirmed cause of death as drowning with no signs of foul play. blaulichtmyk.de · www.n-tv.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · www.rtl.de · www.krone.at · +5 more
[● 10 SOURCES] Police initially only performed a superficial inspection of the pool on Wednesday; a thorough search was done later. www.rtl.de · www.n-tv.de · digitaldaily.de · www.krone.at · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · +4 more