Police revise timeline in death of 3‑year‑old Bella in Preetz, Germany

Three‑year‑old Bella was reported missing on Wednesday afternoon in Preetz, Schleswig‑Holstein. On Thursday morning police, firefighters and volunteers found her lifeless in a swimming pool at her parents' home; an autopsy confirmed drowning and found no evidence of foul play.

Initial police statements said Bella had fallen into the pool immediately after disappearing and was already dead when the search began. The force later corrected those claims, acknowledging that the pool was only superficially inspected at 14:00 on Wednesday and was not thoroughly searched until around midnight, when the body was finally discovered. Investigators also revised the estimated time of death, stating that the exact moment Bella entered the pool cannot be determined from the medical evidence. Police have admitted procedural errors in the search and continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child's death.