Police and firemen began scouring the area, questioning residents and searching the nearby river Sitter.
Now, the mystery has taken a new and strange turn. Police in Appenzell and St-Gallen have revealed that, on the same day that Ylenia disappeared, a 46 year-old man with a gunshot wound was taken to hospital by a passing motorist. The wounded man said that he had been shot by an unknown assailant as he slept in the woods of Oberbüren (SG), 24kms from Ylenia’s home. When police investigated the attack, they discovered a truck in the woods with Spanish license plates. The next morning, Aug. 1, they discovered the body of a 67 year-old Swiss man who had apparently committed suicide. Ylenia’s push-bike, helmet and backpack were found next to the body.
According to police, the dead man may have tried to kill the sleeping man as a witness. However, they are now looking for a second gun: several shots were fired although the weapon found next to the body had fired only one.
Police are still investigating the scene and are trying to determine if the truck was used to carry the child. They have already ruled out any relationship between the girl’s family and the two men.
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