Selects: The Disappearance of Lars Mittank
Stuff You Should Know Podcast Recap
Published:
Duration: 43 min
Summary
The episode delves into the mysterious disappearance of Lars Mittank, a German tourist who vanished in Bulgaria in 2014. The case remains unsolved, with various theories suggesting foul play, mental health issues, or an accident.
What Happened
Lars Mittank, a 28-year-old engineer from northern Germany, disappeared on July 8, 2014, in Golden Sands, Bulgaria, a resort town near Varna. He had traveled there with friends for a vacation, encouraged by his mother Sandra Mittank, but stayed behind due to a ruptured eardrum he claimed was caused by an altercation with local football fans.
During his stay in Bulgaria, Lars displayed unusual behavior, making several phone calls to his mother expressing paranoia and fear. He was staying at the Hotel Color Varna, where he asked Sandra to block his credit card after it was photocopied by hotel staff. He also inquired about the antibiotic cefuroxime, suspecting it might be affecting him.
On the day of his disappearance, Lars visited the airport medical center, after which he was captured on CCTV sprinting through the airport and into the countryside. He left behind his wallet, phone, passport, and other belongings, escalating concerns about his mental state and safety.
The disappearance attracted significant media attention, partly due to its mysterious nature and the conflicting reports about Lars's actions and whereabouts. His mother has been actively searching for him, using social media to follow leads and keep the case in the public eye.
Speculation around Lars's disappearance includes theories of a head injury leading to erratic behavior, potential involvement in human trafficking, or foul play. However, there is little evidence to support any single theory conclusively, and the case remains unsolved.
Germany's involvement through Interpol highlights the seriousness of the investigation, but efforts have yet to yield definitive answers. The case is among the small percentage of missing persons cases among German citizens that remain unresolved after a year.
There was a reported sighting of a man resembling Lars in Brazil, which turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. Another lead came in 2019 when a trucker claimed to have picked up someone resembling Lars in Dresden, but this too did not lead to any concrete findings.
Lars Mittank's disappearance continues to be a topic of discussion and speculation, as it touches on issues of tourism safety, mental health, and international cooperation in missing persons cases. The case has become a bizarre mystery, drawing interest from true crime enthusiasts and investigators alike.
Key Insights
- Lars Mittank disappeared under mysterious circumstances after exhibiting paranoid behavior, which included asking his mother to block his credit card and expressing fear over the phone.
- The case is notable for the eerie CCTV footage showing Lars sprinting through the airport and into the countryside, leaving behind all his personal belongings, including his passport and phone.
- Lars's mother, Sandra Mittank, has been tireless in her search for her son, leveraging social media and following leads across the globe, despite receiving mixed reports about what he left behind.
- Theories about Lars's disappearance are varied, including a head injury, human trafficking, or foul play, but no drugs were found in his belongings, and the case remains unsolved to this day.