Newly found zipper may shed light on missing hiker Scarlett Salice's case

Six years after 26-year-old Scarlett Salice disappeared on the Schluchtensteig trail in the Südschwarzwald, a privately organised search recovered a metal zipper from a dried section of the Wehra river. Police indicated the zipper had been submerged for a long period and are checking whether its size and teeth match the fastener on the backpack she wore. The item has been forwarded to the LKA for detailed forensic analysis, including tissue comparison, but officials warned that the investigation may be postponed because current homicide cases are prioritized.

The "Bitte findet Scarlett" initiative supplied an identical backpack model to aid the comparison. Scarlett’s father, Ralf Salice, said confirming a fall would at least eliminate criminal theories, offering some comfort. Volunteer groups, including "Finderwille" with scent-dogs, continue searching areas such as the Wildensteinfelsen, though experts doubt the dogs can detect a scent after so much time.