This might have been a 'local story' allowed out for a certain amount of 'public' consumption. Wouldn't weaken any of your logic or conclusions depending on the location of the 'ACTIVE ZONE'.
As much as I hate to admit, Whoraldo made a good point last night. He said that Hitler's body was never found (Hitler shot himself and was burned beyond recognition, so his death was never confirmed, and for decades later the speculation of his "actual" whereabouts continued.