Renningen baby death: Mother suspected of staging abduction after body found

Discovery and search

A three-month-old boy was reported missing by his parents in Renningen, near Stuttgart, during the night of Thursday to Friday last week. According to police, the infant had been left unattended in a pram before vanishing. A large-scale search involving around 50 officers, helicopters, drones with thermal cameras, and Red Cross search dogs combed the area. The child's body was found shortly after midday on Friday at the edge of town, near the Rankbach stream.

Identification via DNA

A DNA comparison confirmed the remains were those of the missing baby, the Stuttgart public prosecutor's office and Ludwigsburg police headquarters said on Wednesday. The boy had been reported missing the previous night, and his body was discovered approximately 13 hours later.

Investigation turns to mother

On Wednesday, authorities announced they are now investigating the 32-year-old mother on suspicion of faking a crime. They said there is no evidence of abduction and suspect she herself placed the dead child at the location where it was found. The mother had initially claimed the baby disappeared from the pram.

Cause of death unknown

Officials have not determined how the child died. The investigation continues, and a special task force called "Wagen" (pram) has been set up, comprising 13 detectives. Experts from the State Criminal Police Office have built a 3D model of the location to reconstruct possible sequences of events. Several witness statements are being evaluated.

Ongoing inquiry

Authorities have not said whether the mother is cooperating or has commented on the allegations. The case, which initially drew a massive search-and-rescue response from the town of about 18,000 people, now hinges on forensic and investigative work to clarify the infant's death and the mother's role.