Woman missing for 12 years found living in Swiss woods

guardian.co.uk ^ | January 19, 2009 | Helen Pidd

[Free ThinkerNY]

A woman missing for 12 years has been discovered living rough in woods in Switzerland.

The 52-year-old German, who reportedly has two children, was found living in a shelter made from an umbrella and tarpaulin near Bolligen, on the outskirts of the Swiss capital Bern, police in Switzerland said today.

She appeared to be in good physical condition despite having lived there for a year. It was unclear where she has spent the rest of her missing years, or why she abandoned her old life and family.

Jürg Mosimann, a spokesman for Bern police, said the woman was discovered by a rambler on 8 January. It was only when police did a background check that they realised she was classed as an international missing person, her whereabouts unknown since she left her home town in the state of Brandenburg, near Berlin, in February 1997.

Rudolf Burger, community president of Bolligen, visited the woman in the woods, and found her huddled under her makeshift tent. He told the Tagesanzeiger newspaper that the woman spoke about a "mission" she had to fulfil.

[exist]

This is why FR is so much better than the local newspaper. Thanks Algore for inventing the internet.

[GeronL]

an umbrealla and tarp? hi-tech housing!

[ChocChipCookie]

How on earth did she survive the winter?

[allmost]

They could take her out of, err, comfort, and throw her in a cell.

[Hugin]

Maybe she can give pointers on living under an Obama presidency.

[Lorianne]

She probably had teenagers.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

I’m thinking she is crazier than a s***house rat!

[softengine]

"She probably had teenagers."

No damn doubt.

[wardaddy]

That part of Schweiz outside Bern is not really wilderness

more like Putnam county

[decal]

“...the woman was discovered by a rambler on 8 January.”

SUVs kill; Ramblers search-and-rescue! Bring back AMC!

[SIDENET]

It’s good to have a hobby.

[SIDENET]

He told the Tagesanzeiger newspaper that the woman spoke about a "mission" she had to fulfil.

Nuttier than a squirrel turd.

[TigersEye]

btrl

[Bellflower]

Maybe she can give pointers on living under an Obama presidency.

Good one and you might be right!

[wolfcreek]

She just couldn’t exist within the physical and emotional boundries of *normal* life.

[joethedrummer]

“I just got so damn tired of picking up dirty socks every day!”

[Kevmo]

bmflr