The intensive search for 39-year-old Natalia Panocha-Raczkiewicz which began on Saturday, June 15, has ended in tragedy. The case, which garnered nationwide attention, reached a grim conclusion on Wednesday, June 19, when Andrzej Borowiak, spokesperson for the Greater Poland police, announced the discovery of Natalia’s body in a forest complex on the outskirts of Poznań.
Police officers from a special search unit located Natalia’s body in the northeastern suburbs of Poznań. The discovery in the forest complex dashed any remaining hopes for a positive outcome. In connection with the discovery, police detained Natalia’s 60-year-old husband. This decision was made in consultation with the district prosecutor’s office in Poznań. Borowiak stated that the husband is suspected of withholding crucial information about both Natalia’s disappearance and her death.
“We suspect that he did not tell us the truth. We are convinced that he has knowledge regarding both his wife’s disappearance and her death. The man will remain at the disposal of policemen and prosecutors dealing with this investigation,” Borowiak reported.
Natalia Panocha-Raczkiewicz, a financial advisor, lived with her husband and their 10-year-old son. She was last seen on June 15 while talking to her sister via an internet messenger, sitting in her car. The next day, her vehicle was found in the garage, but she was nowhere to be found. Her family reported her missing when she failed to return home on June 14.
According to earlier information, Natalia had planned to divorce and was meeting another man, which may be connected to her tragic fate.