A 38-year-old mother of three children was arrested on Thursday in Vienna-Döbling on suspicion of child abduction. The woman is said to have only opened the door to her apartment when the police threatened to force entry. While the eleven-year-old boy and his 13-year-old sister were found, the four-year-old had disappeared. There is a suspicion that she may have “abseiled” her mother from the second floor.
Bedsheets found knotted together
The Vienna State Police Directorate reported on Saturday that bed sheets were found knotted together during the apartment search. The officers from the Döbling city police command went to see the woman because the child and youth welfare services of the city of Vienna (MA11) had asked for support in removing a child.
After several attempts to locate the woman and children at the home address have so far been unsuccessful, this time the police were able to hear voices from the premises, as Ingrid Pöschmann, press spokeswoman for child and youth welfare, explained. However, according to the police, the apartment door was not opened voluntarily. After consultation with the Vienna public prosecutor’s office, they ordered the woman to be questioned immediately and the apartment to be searched. Shortly before the door was forced open by WEGA emergency services, the 38-year-old let the officers enter.
Two children ran away
The mother and the 13-year-old were in the apartment, and the eleven-year-old son also came later. However, the woman refused to provide any information about the whereabouts of the youngest child. After the two older siblings were taken into care by children and youth welfare employees to be taken to the crisis center by taxi, both broke free and ran away, Pöschmann reported.
According to MA11, the temporary withdrawal of custody has been in effect since June 2023. At that time, the two older children were supposed to go to a shared apartment, but both ran away. Then the four-year-old was not returned by her mother after a day’s visit.
“Severe form of neglect”
The family had been known for several years because of reports of danger, involving a severe form of neglect by the mother, for example the children’s compulsory school attendance was ignored or unrestricted media consumption was allowed. The woman had indeed shown a certain understanding of her parenting duties during discussions with MA11, but she had so far been overwhelmed when it came to implementing them.
The 38-year-old was taken to a police station for questioning. She refused to make any statement. She was arrested on the orders of the Vienna public prosecutor. A manhunt has been launched for the three children. The MA11 called for any accommodation providers for the children to contact child and youth welfare services.
