25 years after the disappearance: Who knows Lothar Demel?

25 years after the disappearance: Who knows Lothar Demel?

On November 4, 2025, the case of Lothar Demel, who has been missing for 25 years, will be covered in the ZDF program “Aktenzeichen XY”. The 37-year-old Demel disappeared on October 28, 2000 after a shooting competition in Traunstein and has not been heard from since. On that very day he went to Augsburg as a passenger in a friend's car and was dropped off at Königsplatz. The plan was to pick him up the next morning, but he didn't show up and the mystery surrounding his disappearance continued. In recent years, his relatives have been plagued by the many unanswered questions that still remain unanswered.

What is particularly mysterious is that Lothar had his cell phone with him on the day he disappeared. However, a location was not possible, which is why the investigators from the Ulm criminal police consider Demel's whereabouts to be extremely likely. Whether this was a crime remains uncertain, and police are hoping for new leads from people with whom Demel was in contact between October 27 and 28, 2000. To date, all inquiries into his usual places of residence in Augsburg have been unsuccessful.

Who was Lothar Demel?

Lothar not only left a mystery for the investigators, but also left many traces in his personal life that are worth taking a closer look at. The investigators were also unable to make any progress at his place of work in Heidenheim, where he worked as a fitter. There were no signs of a planned trip abroad or a foreseeable end to Lothar Demel's life.

His name, Lothar, is also of interest in itself. The male first name has its roots in the Old High German words “luit” (noise) and “heri” (the army, the warrior). Name bearers like Lothar Matthäus or Lothar Bisky have made history in their respective fields. Perhaps the name Demel is also linked to these historical connections - one would think. But to this day the search for the missing Lothar Demel remains an open question.

A call for help

At the same time, the Ulm criminal police have called on anyone who is attentive to come forward with any relevant information. The determination and commitment shown by the investigators cannot be applauded enough. After all, the case will be covered in the program “Aktenzeichen XY” on November 5, 2025, and those responsible are hoping for new clues that can help clarify what happened. Time is crucial. Any clue could shed light on the mystery and free the Demel family from years of doubt.

Nevertheless, the question remains: Where is Lothar Demel? Those in charge of the “Rockfabrik,” where he frequented, and many other places that Demel visited, also have a responsibility not to forget the missing man. “There is something going on,” we would like to wish, because even 25 years later the case remains a nightmare that no one wants to experience.

To find out more about Lothar Demel, we refer to the comprehensive report by Augsburger Allgemeine and additional information about the name Lothar Wikipedia.