Uhlstädt/Jena, 18.04.2026 – Police are currently searching for 14-year-old Brain-Noel Hedrich. The teenager was last seen in Jena on Thursday and has been missing since then.
- Who: Brain-Noel Hedrich, 14 years old
- When: Missing since Thursday, 16.04.2026 (afternoon)
- Where: Last seen in Jena, residing in the children’s home in Uhlstädt
- Distinguishing features: Carrying an adidas backpack
- Contact: Saalfeld Police at 03671 561210 or Saalfeld Kripo at 03672 4171464
Teenager failed to return to the home
According to the investigators’ current findings, the 14-year-old was out in the city area of Jena on Thursday afternoon with a friend. As previously agreed, he was supposed to return to his children’s home in Uhlstädt, about 30 kilometers away, afterwards. However, he never arrived there. No further information is currently available regarding the exact circumstances of his disappearance or his current whereabouts.
As the search has been unsuccessful so far, the police are now turning to the public with an appeal. Anyone who has seen the teenager or can provide information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the investigative authorities in Saalfeld immediately.
Background: Missing person searches and the Jena-Uhlstädt axis
The municipality of Uhlstädt is located in the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district, south of Jena. Due to the direct connection via the Bundesstraße 88 and the Saalebahn railway line, commuting between the two locations is very common. Especially when searching for minors, authorities quickly expand their search measures to adjacent regions and important transport hubs such as train stations.
The police take missing person reports of teenagers from care facilities very seriously, even if no immediate danger is necessarily apparent. Information from the public, especially from local public transport, often plays a central role in rapid resolution.
Source:
Uhlstädt: Missing 14-year-old
Transparency Note: This article was automatically generated, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.