Greek police has confirmed that a missing teen traveled by plane to Germany on the first day of her disappearance, spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou said in an interview with state-run broadcaster ERT.
Sixteen-year-old Laura was last seen on January 8 near the southwestern city of Patra. Police say the girl sold her mobile phone before she disappeared so that she could not be traced. She then used the money she got from the sale to travel to Athens by taxi. Officers also found that she deleted all her social media accounts one day before her disappearance.
The girl’s parents, German citizens who live permanently in Rio, reported the girl’s disappearance and an amber alert was issued by the charity Smile of the Child.
Dimoglidou said the airline has not responded to a police request despite being informed that Laura’s life was considered at risk. She said the authorities contacted all airlines operating flights to Germany within the first 24 hours, but the airline that issued the ticket “has still not responded.”
“This is something that could have been communicated to us within the first hours,” she said, referring to the fact that the teen purchased a ticket and flew on the same day she disappeared.
She said there was no order from a prosecutor to oblige the airline to respond as the case does not concern a criminal offense, but police had parental consent to request information.
Dimoglidou said the airline’s lack of cooperation did not hinder the investigation, which from the outset examined the possibility that the girl had traveled abroad, despite conflicting witness accounts placing her in various parts of Athens.
She added that German authorities have been informed about the disappearance and that Laura’s parents are searching for her.