THE ex-girlfriend of the dad of the tractor-loving boy who was tragically found dead beside a pond has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Gina H. was seized by police in Gustrow, north Germany following large-scale searches carried out earlier in the day.
Officials confirmed she was arrested yesterday and said the boy was likely killed on the day he went missing.
They added his body had been set on fire in an attempt to hide the evidence.
Fabian, from Güstrow, south of the city of Rostock, was reported missing on October 10 when he failed to return home.
Cops launched a massive search operation for the eight-year-old, whose body was mysteriously found four days later by his dad’s ex-girlfriend.
She discovered his burned body at the edge of a pond near Klein Upahl, some 10 miles away, while allegedly walking her dog.
His mum, Dorina L., said that she left him alone in the house that morning because he was feeling ill and instructed him to stay home while she went to work.
But investigators believe that Gina H., who had a close relationship with the boy, later came and picked him up with her car, which has now been seized for examination.
The suspect and Fabian’s dad, Matthias R., reportedly dated for four years before breaking up in mid-August.
Neighbours who knew the couple said the relationship seemed to be marked by frequent conflicts, and Gina H. appeared to be very upset after the separation.
The Rostock public prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrest but has not released further details.
The investigation is ongoing.
Bizarre events surrounding the boy’s disappearance sparked wild speculation over the cause of his death.
In an interview with Nordkurier, his mum revealed she had “a bad feeling” and immediately suspected foul-play — concerns, she claims, police downplayed.
In the days that followed his disappearance, hundreds of search workers were deployed to locate the missing child.
Investigators conducted widespread interviews in the town, questioning neighbours and members of staff at Fabian’s school.
According to criminal expert Axel Petermann, statistically, child homicides are caused by someone in the family.
He told Bild: “When children are killed, the search for clues usually begins in the child’s immediate environment.”
It was also alleged a man was spotted trying to speak to a primary school child around the time of Fabian’s disappearance.
According to Petermann, “if a stranger speaks to another child nearby, the police have to try to identify this person.”
“That’s a lead that must be followed up,” he added.
It remains unclear whether investigators have pursued the lead and their silence has aroused yet more speculation.
But according to criminology professor Christian Matzdorf, secrecy around the case is likely to protect the investigation as the situation “can change at any time”.
In a statement, officials previously said: “At this point, we again ask for your understanding that no details of the investigation can be released at this time.
“The sole reason for this reticence is that the ongoing investigation should not be hindered or complicated by premature media releases.”
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