Germany Germany - Elif Cirakoglu, 9, Köln, 8 June 1971

[TheArtfulDetective]

Elif Cirakoglu



Case Classification: Non-Family Abduction / Suspected Homicide
Missing Since: June 8, 1971
Location Last Seen: Köln (Cologne), Germany

Description:

• Date of Birth: circa 1962
• Age: 9 years
• Race: White/Caucasian
• Gender: Female
• Height: Unknown
• Weight: Unknown
• Hair Color: Dark
• Eye Color: Unknown
• Nickname/Alias: Unknown
• Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown
• Clothing & Personal Items: Yellow dress. Light red wool jacket with zipper. White knee socks. White sandals with gold lacing. Red school bag with handle and 2 metal clasps.
• Identifiers: Unknown

Circumstances of Disappearance:
Elif disappeared on her way to school on the morning of June 8, 1971 in Köln, Germany. She was last seen leaving her residence at 8:00 am to meet her classmate as usual at the nearby railway bridge but she never arrived. Elif has never been seen again.

Prior to her disappearance, there had been incidences of assaults and attempted abductions reported in the same vicinity of the bridge by a suspect driving a Volkswagen Beetle. Officials suspect Elif was kidnapped and subsequently murdered but she has never been located.

Investigators:

• Polizeiwache Mülheim: 0221 2294530

Elif Cirakoglu
Sendung vom 29.10.1971 – Aktenzeichen XY ... ungelöst - Wiki (German)

 

[Megsc]

Elif's schoolbag
Elif Cirakoglu

 

[Megsc]

I happened to find a forum where there is a long and interesting post about Elif : KÖLN-MÜLHEIM: Vermisst Elif Cirakoglu (1971)

Elif Cirakoglu was born in Turkey around 1962. Elif Cirakoglu's parents came to Germany as guest workers. They lived in Cologne-Mülheim and felt very safe and comfortable in Germany.

The Disappearance

Nine-year-old Elif Cirakoglu got ready for school on the morning of June 8, 1971 and then set off for school. She was in the third grade of a primary school in Cologne-Mülheim. Elif Cirakoglu really enjoyed school and was a good and conscientious student. When she left the family home, Elif took her usual route to school and wanted to meet her classmate there, as always, behind the Mülheim Bridge, which led over railway tracks. The two girls wanted to walk the last part of the way to school together. The classmate waited for Elif behind the bridge. Nine-year-old Elif Cirakoglu did not arrive and has since disappeared without a trace.

(Snip)

The times of the crimes

The days of the crimes always fell on Saturdays. To be more precise, on Saturday morning, June 14, 1969; on Saturday, May 9, 1970; and on Saturday morning, May 8, 1971.

The crime scene

The crime scene was on Hohlweg, in the area of the Mülheimer Brücke in Cologne-Mülheim.


(Snip)

1. Crime "Alexandra D."

The first crime occurred on Saturday, June 14, 1969. The VW Beetle was probably there that morning too. Alexandra D., a Greek guest worker child, also took the sunken road by the railway bridge [Mülheimer Brücke] in Cologne-Mülheim that day. Two other children who go to the same school as Alexandra D. also took the same route. The girl was grabbed from behind by an unidentified man and put in the car. The man drove with Alexandra to a lonely forest path. There she was sexually abused. Alexandra D. survived the crime.

2. Crime "Melina and Helena"

The second crime occurred on Saturday, May 9, 1970, the Saturday before Mother's Day.
The two Greek girls, Melina and Helena, also had lessons on Saturday. They attended a school for children of guest workers. Their route led through an industrial area. There weren't many people there that day, it was almost deserted. Their way to school took them along Schanzenstrasse, the hollow road and the Mülheimer Bridge, a railway bridge. The path was bordered by high walls and difficult to see. The children were lost in thought and didn't notice the VW Beetle parked at the end of the hollow road. Suddenly the perpetrator tried to kidnap both children, but one of the girls, little Melina, managed to escape. Helena was put in the car. When the perpetrator turned to the back seat to get a "bottle of bitters", Helena took the opportunity to escape. She quickly found a passerby who called for help. However, the perpetrator managed to escape undetected.

3. Crime "Elif Cirakoglu"

The third crime occurred on Saturday, May 8, 1971. It was again the Saturday before Mother's Day. Elif Cirakogl, a guest worker's child, was going to school. As always, she took the same route to school over the Mülheimer Bridge. A witness saw Elif Cirakoglu on her way to school at 8:00 a.m.Her friend was already waiting on the other side of the Mülheimer Bridge, a railway bridge, but Elif had not come to the agreed meeting point that day. Elif has disappeared without a trace since that day. She was probably kidnapped in the same place where the other children were attacked.

 

[Susikatze]

The perp was probably local and did not work on Saturday mornings while having a regular mon-friday 5 days a week job. He may have also worked nightshifts and ended his week on saturday mornings, passing by the Mühlheimer Brücke on his way home. He probably had no criminal record and was of modest means (VW beetle). He drank alcohol when nervous and had a stock in his car.
He targeted only kids. Only girls from recent immigrant backgrounds who he may have thought of being easy prey.
He was not a professional, three of four known victims escaped.

I hope the evidence is still somewhere archived and DNA FGG will one happy day also be allowed and used in Germany

 

[ErinC]

I wonder if this guy was somehow involved with guest workers, maybe like a supervisor or something. He seemed to have a pretty good idea of where available kids would be/have a notion that they wouldn't be missed. He would also know the times their parents were and were not at work, which might help him formulate a good idea of where/when to strike.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Did police ever release a sketch of this man? After all, several girls saw what he looked like. I think he probably committed additional crimes.

My heart goes out to the girl who was assaulted. The trauma must have been horrendous. Likewise to the two who were almost abducted.

Sincere condolences to Elif's parents and other relatives. It is tragic that she was never found and that the abductor never caught.

 

[Megsc]

Did police ever release a sketch of this man? After all, several girls saw what he looked like. I think he probably committed additional crimes.

I had the same thought and tried to find a sketch of the suspect but wasn't able to
There are so little informations on this case online...