Full Name: Aref Ismaili

Alternative Name: Unknown

Case Status: Missing

Record ID#: 0151

*The names “Jane Doe”  and “John Doe” are English names used when the person’s true name is not known. If used above, the name refers to a person of unknown identity.

Date of Birth*: August 14, 2011
Birthplace: Afghanistan
Age at the Time: 4
Age Group: Child
Biological Sex: Male
Hair: Black
Eyes: Black
Skin Complexion: Unknown
Shoe Size: Unknown
Ethnicity: Middle Eastern
Nationality: Afghanistan
Languages Spoken: Unknown, Not German so likely Arabic

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Physical Build:

Height:

Weight

Distinguishing Marks:

• Unknown

Medical Condition: Unknown
Physical Abnormality: Unknown
Dental Condition: Unknown
Scars & Other Marks: Unknown
Piercings: Unknown
Tattoos: Unknown

Other Descriptors: Unknown

Clothing

• Green Shirt
• Dark Trousers

Possessions:

• Unknown

Date of the Disappearance*: April 4, 2014

Description:

On April 4, 2016, four-year-old Aref Ismaili disappeared while playing with his family at a park near the Werra River in the small town of Wanfried, Hesse. Around 6:30 p.m., his mother, Mozhda Ismaili, briefly looked away as Aref rode his tricycle toward the river—when she turned back, he had vanished. Independent and occasionally ahead of the family, Aref had sometimes returned to the nearby refugee shelter on his own, leading his mother to initially assume he’d done so again.

After failing to find him at home, she notified the Eschwege police at approximately 8:30 p.m. Investigators initially suspected a drowning in the Werra River. Despite intensive searches—deploying around 200 rescue personnel, rescue dogs, boats, a helicopter, and even lowering river levels—no trace was discovered.

Following eyewitness reports of a black BMW SUV (X3 or X5) with Berlin license plates, authorities shifted their focus. The vehicle had been seen near the refugee shelter earlier in the day and drove in the vicinity of the park.

Eyewitness sightings during the afternoon placed the vehicle at three locations: the local cemetery, in front of the town hall, and near the refugee shelter’s entrance. A slim, long-haired blonde woman—possibly Eastern European—was seen entering the SUV without any visitor having attended the shelter at that time.

Based on descriptions, two suspects were sketched:

• Male, Caucasian, aged 60–70, with curly white hair but balding on top, and a pronounced hooked nose.
• Female, Caucasian, aged 30–40, about 4’11″–5’4″, thin, with dark-blonde hair down to her lower back, dressed in leggings and a skirt.

After the sketch’s release, investigators received approximately 120 tips, but no leads have produced results. The BMW’s Berlin-registered owners were checked without success.

Police formed a special investigative team, Soko Schlagd, led by Michael Jung of Eschwege Police, to investigate several possible motives—including kidnapping for adoption, sexual intent, or religious motives.

Despite early assumptions of drowning, investigators now treat abduction as likely. Media coverage expanded to include a special broadcast on ZDF’s Aktenzeichen XY… ungelöst, and police made reward offers reported at €25,000. German outlets like Stern revisited the case in 2017, urging public assistance. A police spokesperson confirmed that as of April 2017, no new leads had emerged—but the case remained active.

As of 2025, there have been no further public developments, and the case remains open though active.

Multiple Victims?: Unknown

Rumored or Actual Sightings: A later tip claimed a child matching Aref’s appearance was seen near Berlin—approximately 250 miles from Wanfried—accompanied by an older man. This lead remains unconfirmed with no follow-up publicly disclosed.

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Date the Body was Recovered: Unknown

Description: Unknown

Possible Signs Of . . . : Unknown

Time of Death: Unknown

Cause of Death: Unknown

Recovered Remains (if partial): Unknown

Suspected Homicide?: Unknown

Multiple Victims?: Unknown

DNA Tested (No Match): Unknown

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Description: Black SUV (BMW X3 or X5)

License Plate: Berlin License Plates

Description: Two individuals are considered suspects in connection with the 2014 abduction of Aref Ismaili from Winfried, Germany. They were reportedly seen together in a black SUV with Berlin license plates, which was parked outside the refugee center at the time.

The first suspect is a Caucasian male, estimated to be between 60 and 70 years old. He has curly white hair with noticeable balding on the top of his head, and a distinctive hooked nose.

The second suspect is a Caucasian female, believed to be between 30 and 40 years old. She is described as thin and short in stature, approximately 4’11” to 5’4″. She has long dark blonde hair reaching down to her lower back and was seen wearing leggings with a skirt.