Police file murder and rape charges after discovery of missing girl’s body

Police on Thursday charged a 41-year-old man with murder and rape of nine-year-old Anna J. who went missing in the Prague neighbourhood of Trója in October. Her body was found some 800 metres from the place where she was last seen. The man has been the main suspect in the case ever since his DNA was found on the girl’s abandoned schoolbag.

Photo: CTK

The man was charged less than 24 hours after Prague police finally found the remains of nine-year-old girl Anna J. The police first filed kidnapping charges against the suspect in late October, after his DNA was found on the girl’s schoolbag. He was also later accused of a series of burglaries into houses in the area, but the police did not have enough evidence to link him directly to the girl’s disappearance.

The girl was reported missing on October 13; she was last seen by her friends when she was walking home from school. The police searched the area many times but only found her schoolbag, her plastic bottle and her set of keys.

On Wednesday, police launched yet another search of the largely unpopulated area, covered with overgrown shrubs and bushes. The body was eventually discovered in a 50-cm deep grave. The police said new 3D technology was a key factor, together with warm weather and the fact that the body was partially unearthed by wild animals.

Photo: CTK

The police detained the main suspect again just hours after the body was found but said he was only being questioned about more burglaries. Meanwhile, an autopsy confirmed the girl suffered a violent death, and police also carried out further DNA tests before charging the man with murder and rape. The police said the man refused to talk, and rejected another lie detector test.