Family fights for answers and justice

Roses lie on the damp grass, candles flicker in between, it hisses as soon as a raindrop hits the flame. Ged corner with loops, on which « in eternal memory » is frame the large, black stone. In the middle of the arrangement: a bright yellow fire brigade helmet. Even if it looks like this at first glance, it is not a grave and also not a grave jewelry that is available in front of it. There is no deceased underground. It is a memorial stone that should always remind Denis Root on the banks of the Mindel. His name is on the black stone in white letters, a photo of the young man, who a year ago in the flood in Open disappeared and presumably died shortly after. Nobody knows exactly where Denis Root is. All searches that took place last year were unsuccessful. But the family is fighting that the search continues.

Memorial celebration on the Mindel: The Root family is reminiscent of Denis

In This week, several people came together on the memorial stone on the Mindel Bridge, family, friends, comrades the fire brigades. The flood and its consequences are still deep in those who were affected. For Denis’ mother Nadja Root, her life changed on this day. Your son never comes back from the assignment.

In addition to the memorial stone, the favorite chewing gum of the then 22-year-old are on a can of Red Bull, a bottle of gentleman Jack is on the other. Friends brought him these things, they give an indication of how the young man was, how he lived his everyday life. The Big-Foot Club Offingen association hung this year’s carnival badge on a arrangement of this year’s carnival badge.

Another person died in the district of Günzburg in the flood

In the flood disaster in early June 2024, according to the Bavarian State Government, four people died fatally by June 8, 2024. It was an emergency and three private individuals. Another person, Denis Root, is still missing. The Bavarian police led one of the largest and most extensive searches throughin which all the available and related options were fully exploited. His family also worked himself, but also during the police searches, but also afterwards. With private divers, sonar devices and dogs, they searched the Danube near Lauingen and the Mindel – a boot was found a few months ago. But the DNA on the shoe did not match Denis Root. It was a bitter setback for his relatives. To date, the family cannot complete. Many of the volunteers agree: Denis Root is spilled somewhere.

On Wednesday afternoon, Denis’ mother sits at the memorial station for her son like every day. On the phone she says that things will go on. « I will not give up and do everything that is in my strength that Denis is found. » She again wrote a letter to the Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) And asked to search again with divers, she hung up the volunteers’ deployment report. Their fighting spirit had an effect. The day before there are police divers of the Riot police headquarters from Bamberg. The plan was to look for where a few months ago gnawing dogs sensed human DNA, at the confluence with the confluence with the Brenz into the Danube, shortly after the barrage near Lauingen. As root tells, the divers unfortunately had to break off because of the thunderstorm. But they will come again. And if the police divers do not find anything, there is still plan B. « Then I still have the voluntary divers who want to go. Without them, I wouldn’t do it all. » Denis’ mother now also has a lawyer at her side. He supports her that you continue to be sought.

Firefighter missing since flooding: public prosecutor’s office is investigating

The Memmingen public prosecutor also deals with the case. Delivered after the flood disaster and the disappearance of Denis Root, pre -investigations against the boat guide were initiated. It is about finding out how exactly the accident came about and what responsibilities on the lifeboat, on which another firefighting comrade was sitting next to Denis, passed. This is announced by Sebastian Murer, press spokesman and chief prosecutor. According to rumors, the two could not have worn life jacks. It is also unclear whether they would have prevented the lost in the strong current. As Nadja Root reported, her son probably hit his head on a bridge when the boat capsized. Murer cannot yet share the results of the investigation. He also refers to the presumption of innocence.