Disappeared since Wednesday
Police suspect missing boy is with his mother
Updated on January 16, 2026 – 5:33 p.mReading time: 2 min.
The search for the eight-year-old boy from Frankfurt, who has been missing since Wednesday, is still in full swing. Now further details are becoming known.
The eight-year-old boy from Frankfurt, who has been missing since Wednesday, has not been living with his family recently. According to a spokesman for the social affairs department, the city took the child into care in autumn 2025 on the basis of a court order. We are currently in close contact with the investigative authorities and are fully supporting their investigations.
Taking someone into care involves temporary placement in a foster family or an inpatient facility. The youth welfare office takes this measure to protect the well-being of a child.
Now the police say: The current investigation results suggest that Noah is with his mother. However, she does not have custody of the eight-year-old. Where exactly the two are is still unclear. The police investigation is focused on the Rhine-Main area, it is said.
Police also released a photo of eight-year-old Noah that was “most likely taken after the disappearance.” It shows the boy wearing an orange jacket and a baseball cap. Police are appealing for information from anyone who saw Noah accompanied by a woman. The photo is in original size here to view.
The police announced on Friday that they were expanding the investigation into the boy’s family environment. The reason for this was, among other things, several tips received, explained a spokesman. All aspects affecting the family would be checked; the police did not provide any further details.
According to police, the boy was on Wednesday morning from a driving service at the Weissfrauenschule in Frankfurt Station district been discontinued. Since then there has been no trace of him. The search is still in full swing, including with a helicopter and police boats. The child’s school bag was discovered not far from the school on Thursday.