Overview
- A premature baby who died at Klinikum Böblingen was placed in the hospital cold room and went missing when an undertaker arrived to collect the body, investigators say, with the remains recovered in a commercial laundry after the Wednesday pickup attempt and found on Thursday.
- Police and the public prosecutor have launched a criminal investigation for Störung der Totenruhe, and the parents have filed a complaint.
- Investigators are running DNA tests to confirm that the remains recovered in the laundry are those of the missing infant and have not named any suspects while they examine all possibilities.
- Authorities are questioning staff who had authorized access to the clinic's cold room and tracing when and by whom laundry was collected as they probe handover and chain-of-custody practices.
- The hospital operator, Klinikverbund Südwest, expressed deep regret, pledged full cooperation and said it will review procedures for handling deceased children as the case continues to affect the bereaved family and could prompt changes to internal controls.