Missing Vitalij from Kelheim: Police ask for the public's help!

Missing Vitalij from Kelheim: Police ask for the public's help!

There is currently great concern about a missing man in Kelheim. Vitalij Holstein, a 39-year-old, has been missing since November 29, 2025 and is considered mentally and physically impaired. He is described as needy by police, who have launched extensive searches. So far, however, the searches have been unsuccessful. Search dogs, helicopters and drones have already been used to find clues to his whereabouts. But so far the intensive search has not yielded the desired result, leaving the relatives and the community in fear. The police are urgently calling on the public to help in order to find the missing man as soon as possible, reports inFranken.

Vitalij Holstein is described as 1.72 meters tall, slim and with brown hair. He was last seen at the intersection of Hallstattstrasse and Kelheimwinzerstrasse, often keeping his head bowed and wearing the hood of his jacket over his face. The police are asking property owners in and around Kelheim to check their garden houses and barns, as he may have sought shelter there. He wears a gray knitted hat, a black down jacket with brown fur trim, dark blue pants and black ankle-high winter shoes with Velcro. He also wears glasses and mostly black gloves, as BR24 reports.

The role of the police

The case reveals the challenges police face in missing persons cases. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), a person is considered missing if they remain away from their whereabouts without an explanation and a risk to life or limb is assumed. This is especially true for Vitaly, whose limitations complicate the situation. In Germany there are very strict guidelines as to when the police can intervene, and in such cases the local police are responsible for the immediate search for people. Large-scale measures can be initiated when there is acute danger, which has already happened in Vitalij's case. According to the [BKA](https://www.bka.de/DE/ UnserAufstellen/Ermittlungsunterstuetzung/BearbeitungVermisstenfaelle/bearbeitungVermisstenfaelle.html), great efforts are required to find such missing people, especially if they have special needs for support.

The community is encouraged to keep their eyes open and report any information. This is often crucial for the success of the search operations. Any hint, no matter how small, could make the difference and lead to the return of Vitalij Holstein. The family of the missing person is also actively involved in the search and hopes that the matter will be resolved soon.