Overview
- The special episode of Aktenzeichen XY… Ungelöst was broadcast on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, and streamed on ZDF channels and SRF to reach viewers across borders.
- The program reconstructed four open cases: a 1997 triple murder at Manfred Meisel’s Mallorca finca, the 2011 and 2012 deaths of two newborn boys found in Germany and the Czech border area, the 2016 disappearance of 19‑year‑old Sidney Lute, and the 2023 disappearance of Damir Kocan from Zürich.
- Investigators say a DNA comparison has conclusively linked the two newborns to the same mother and very likely the same father, but the parents’ identities and the circumstances of death remain unresolved.
- Police and prosecutors continue to treat the Meisel killings and both disappearances as active inquiries and asked viewers to call a Munich studio hotline during the broadcast; the episode will be available in the ZDF‑Mediathek for 30 days.
- Broadcasters emphasized the show’s international reach and a reported €5,000 reward for the newborn case, and families and investigators said renewed public attention could produce new leads and cross‑border cooperation to advance the investigations.