Pedersöre municipal border sign. Photo: Santeri Viinamäki / Wikipedia Commons
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Finnish police are still searching for a family of nine who disappeared from Pedersöre, Ostrobothnia, in early 2024. Authorities confirmed on Friday that the parents are suspected of taking their children unlawfully from a child protection unit, and media reports suggest additional serious charges are under investigation.
The family, which included two parents and seven children, with an eighth child on the way, vanished four months after the children were placed into protective custody due to reported neglect and substandard living conditions.
Their last known residence was a remote farmhouse in the Ostrobothnian countryside.
Police said they continue to receive about 10 tips per day from the public following an appeal made earlier this month. Investigators have interviewed several witnesses and are following up on new information that may assist future search operations.
Chief investigator Tony Rauma said that the police are actively pursuing all leads. “We have received some interesting tips during the preliminary investigation,” Rauma stated in the press release.
Authorities are still urging anyone with information about the family’s whereabouts to contact them via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 0295 415 501.
On Friday, tabloid Ilta-Sanomat reported that the parents are suspected of multiple serious offences. These reportedly include aggravated deprivation of liberty, aggravated assault, educational neglect, registration offences, fraud, and firearms violations.
The charges were said to be detailed in court documents related to the children’s initial placement into protective care.
The Ostrobothnia Police Department would not confirm the list of suspected crimes. Mikael Appel, the department’s communications manager, said, “Information in the ongoing preliminary investigation is not public, so the police cannot reveal anything pertaining to it.”
No confirmed sightings of the family have been reported since their disappearance.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
