One of the more intriguing trailers I’ve posted recently was for
BERLIN (AP) — Berlin police on Wednesday released photos an English-speaking teenage boy who wandered into the city nine months ago saying he had been living for the last five years in the forest with his father.
Police spokesman Thomas Neuendorf said all attempts to identify the boy since he emerged in the German capital on Sept. 5 have been unsuccessful, and they are now hoping the release of his photo may produce some leads.
“We have checked his DNA against all missing person reports, sent the data to Interpol so that they could check it internationally, but unfortunately without any success,” Neuendorf said.
The boy has told authorities his father called him “Ray” and that he was born June 20, 1994, but claims not to know his last name or where he’s from.
He said his mother, Doreen, died in a car accident when he was 12 and after that he and his father, Ryan, took to the forest. He said they wandered using maps and a compass, staying in tents or caves overnight.
He told authorities that after his father died in August, 2011, he buried him in the forest and then walked five days north before ending up in Berlin, and showed up at city hall.
Investigators have been unable to confirm any details about a fatal car accident that matches up with Ray’s story, however, and haven’t been able to find the body of the father — raising “serious doubts” about the story.“There are many question marks,” Neuendorf said.
He is now being taken care of by youth services, and is going to school. When he first appeared, Ray spoke English and a few words of German, but has picked up more German fast, Neuendorf said.
He has also quickly adapted to city life and technology, using a laptop and his cell phone with no problems.
“Everything gives the impression that he was not far away from civilization for years,” Neuendorf said.
Neuendorf said that Ray does not speak English with a particular accent, leading investigators to believe that he is not a native speaker. There are no indications, however, of what his native tongue might be. [Yahoo]When he showed up at City Hall, “Ray” was carrying a tent for two people, a Finnish-brand backpack described as “like new,” and was wearing a gold-colored neckace with the pendant “D.” [USAToday]
He just showed up in Berlin saying he was from the forest, and now he’s going to German high school and has a laptop and a cell phone? I’m intrigued by the story, but even more so then that, I really hope it turns out that Ray is just a baby-faced 29-year-old from Idaho and this is the most complex-but-brilliant pussy-getting scheme in the history of mankind. “Please, tell me more about your ways, future-teen. But be gentle, for I am only a simple forest boy. In fact, it would make me more comfortable if we both had our shirts off. That is the forest way.”