Authorities are intensifying their investigation into the disappearance of 16-year-old Laura, focusing on her background and family environment as new details emerge about her movements and her parents’ stance.
Twenty-six days after she was first reported missing, police have known for the past five days that the teenager is in Germany. Despite that development, her parents remain in the town of Rio in western Greece, a fact that has raised concerns among officers handling the case.
According to police sources, Laura’s departure appears to have been carefully planned. Her trail has largely “gone cold,” even within Germany, prompting investigators to shift their attention toward her family circle and personal history.
Her father has given five statements to police but, according to authorities, has not provided clear answers to key questions. He reportedly could not name his daughter’s friends, did not know how many social media profiles she maintained, and was unaware of the number of her email accounts, said to be seven. He also made no mention of her half-brother. At one point, he reportedly told officers: “Keep searching, I have helped enough.”
A police analyst said such phrasing can suggest a parent feels the matter no longer concerns them. Authorities also note that the father’s strict personality and past career as a military doctor in the former Soviet Union may make it harder to interpret his behavior.
Laura’s mother has also testified at least five times, always alone. Investigators are trying to encourage her to share more information about the family environment. When she previously appeared with her husband, she was described as largely expressionless and silent. According to the same police analyst, she appeared supportive of her daughter but avoided even making eye contact with her husband.
Although it is now known that Laura is in Germany, her parents have not asked authorities for guidance on how to proceed or expressed an intention to travel there to look for her. The only exception was a brief trip the mother made to Athens on January 13, lasting just a few hours overnight. She said she went to search for her daughter, but police question who she could realistically contact for information at that time.
The case remains open, with investigations continuing both abroad and within Laura’s immediate family environment as authorities try to piece together what happened.
German legal framework
German law regarding missing minors is also drawing attention. Laura previously spent one month in a youth accommodation facility. If German authorities determine that her family environment is unsuitable, they may decide not to return her to Greece even if she is located.
According to legal sources in Germany cited in media reports, a 16-year-old can be hosted by third parties or relatives if authorities are informed, even if the child is being sought by parents. If a minor reports abuse and seeks help from social services, they can be placed under protection while the claims are examined. In such cases, authorities may legally withhold the child’s location.
At the same time, minors in Germany, as in Greece, cannot book hotel rooms, open bank accounts, or obtain bank cards on their own, significantly limiting their ability to move independently without adult assistance.
