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AFP / Getty Images
Known as "Forest Boy," a young man turned to authorities in Berlin nine months ago saying he had lived in a forest for five years and did not know who he was.
Updated at 9:40 a.m.: MAINZ, Germany - Police in Berlin said on Friday the mysterious "Forest Boy", who turned up in the German capital nine months ago claiming to have lived in woods for several years, has admitted inventing his story after he was identified.
Investigators said a woman in The Netherlands contacted Dutch police, saying she recognized the young man as her 20-year old step-son who had gone missing in September.
Police said the man admitted inventing the story about his name, background and supposed 'wild' life in the woods.
"We are 100 percent certain that he is this 20-year-old boy, because his step-mother positively identified him," a police spokeswoman told Die Welt.
The woman said she saw a picture that had been issued to the international press on Wednesday by German authorities seeking clues on the mystery man’s identity.
The boy, who first told police he was called Ray, told authorities he had been living in woods until the death of his father. He said his father told him he was born June 20, 1994 -- which would have made him 17 -- but claimed not to know his last name or where he was from.
'Forest boy' mystery: Stumped German police release photo
Ursula Kinzel, a spokeswoman for the Berlin police told NBC News: "In the police interrogation today, the young man admitted that his name is Robin and that he had made up the story which he had been telling police and youth authorities for the past 10 months."
Kinzel added that "officials here are evaluating whether they will launch criminal proceedings over social benefit fraud against the Dutch man".
"It turns out that the young man presented a Pinocchio story," police spokesman Michael Maass added. "We now know that the young man turned 20 in April and was reported missing in the Netherlands by his family last September."
AFP / Getty Images
German investigators say a woman in The Netherlands contacted Dutch police to say she recognized "Ray" as her 20-year old step-son who had gone missing in September.
Officials stressed that the young man has not been placed under arrest and that he would be free to leave.
"Ray" told police his mother, Doreen, died in a car accident when he was 12, after which he and his father, Ryan, took to the forest. He said they wandered using maps and a compass, and stayed in tents or caves overnight.
However, police said he had quickly adapted to city life and technology, using a laptop and cell phone with no problems. "There are many question marks," police spokesman Thomas Neuendorf said on Wednesday.
The case echoes that of the 'Piano Man', a mysterious figure who turned up at a hospital in Britain in 2005 apparently unable to speak and with no clues to his identity except a talent for playing the piano. After spending months in a psychiatric hospital he admitted he was a German man who had fled to Britain after losing his job.
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Leave a Comment:
He should repay the cost of man hours wasted on him. People like this are an unnecessary drain on society.
Yes. Along with a fine.
German authorities said he presented a "Pinocchio story." Translation: He lied. Is that so hard to say?
Oh yes but Pinocchio sounds so cute. Witto Pinocchio tode a witto whye....
I agree with Randy. He should have to reimburse the costs of this fiasco. And then some. After that they should make him live in the forest for 5 years or until he dies. Which ever comes first.
It turns out that the young man presented a Pinocchio story
We can see that by the size of his nose.
Come, now. The Germans have no choice but to be sympathetic. Are you suggesting that they put him on train and take him to a work camp?
B707320C - send him to a work camp in the Netherlands indeed.
loser
Spell Checker and Devel: your narrow-minded nationalism is showing. Let the Germans use the phrase they're accustomed too, and thank you MSNBC for keeping that phrase intact.
mananon ... he should either be claimed mentally ill and dealt with accordingly ... or ... he should be charged and fined for all the expenses he incurred ... and registered for what he is ... a fraud ... not a cute "Pinocchio" .................
Just through his @$$ back in the forest.
No Mother or Father< Life can be very difficult without parents or anyone especially now a days.
He is a 20 yr old from the town of Hengelo not far from the German border town of Gronau. He is Robin v. H- He left with his friend to Berlin on Sept.2,2011 and emerged from the forests on Sept.5,2011 claiming to have been living in the forests with his father. He had personal problems- a stepmother- he is no more a juvenile. The publishing of his picture in Berliner Morgenpost led to tips/Duch police to contact German authorities-verifying info 100%- but a DNA test was ordered. http://www.morgenpost.de/berlin-aktuell/article 106600916/Identitaet-des-Waldjungen-offenbar-geklaert.html
Some people lie for personal gain, but most people lie because they're afraid of what will happen if they tell the truth. Often the lie comes out before they've had a chance to muster their courage to be truthful, then they keep up the ruse because now they've done something else to fear the consequences for. It's certainly the wrong thing to do, but if listeners would keep this in mind, it might help to get to the truth faster. I look at this young man's picture, and I see someone trying to mask fear.
I cant believe this has made the headline several days in a row.
Off topic, this was the funniest typo I've seen in a long while... what went "through" his @ss back in the forest? Did it hit any 'road blocks' along the way?
On a serious note, I agree...throw his @ss back in the forest and lets make an honest boy out of Pinnochio!
If that is the picture police took when he first turned up, his hair should have been down to his waist....shouldn't it?
"What tangled webs we weave - " Shakespeare
When I first saw this story here the other day I suspected that something like this would be the case. Knew his "forrest boy' sotry was a little fishy (and including details from recent movies) and that he was hiding something (Maybe his home life with his "evil step-mother" is not that wonderful -- but this little prank was still uncalled for. . I am sure he was enjoying the attention and media coverage -- for as long as it lasted. Clearly, modern technology and up-to-to-minute -mass media can be very effective in getting to the bottom of this whole thing. Getting his pictue out there and sending it out in the internet and around the wolrd --put a speedly end to his little "hoax".
poor messed up guy...hey...got'a think he's got mental issues...
Maybe.. or just a step-mom he does not like too much.. a good imagination, decent sorty-telling skill and the "balls" to try to pull off a prank/hoax -- and see how far/long he can get a way with it. I see some steep fines, a short "dentention" and maybe a book deal in his future!
I know, I'd rather hear more about what Loser Lohan is up to or more from some cry baby ball player who makes millions while their little arenas/stadiums are paid for on the tax payer dime*. That's real news!
*Note: MSNBC will put little effort into publishing a story about the tax payers being bent over by professional sports team owners and the fans will continue to pay 50 dollars for a 4 dollar tee-shirt with some picture of a stooge of an "athlete" silk screened onto it.
You can take one look at him and you know he is Dutch.
the lack of evidence sure didn't stop the media from running with the story and giving him a cute name like forest boy...
You Americans have NO STANDING so drink a big mug of stfu. Let Germany deal with Germany.
This is disappointing. Who cares if he deprived of social funding blah blah whatever....I am just upset that the story has such a mundane ending. I was really hoping there was some awesome novel-worthy backstory to all this. Just disappointing.
Oh, give this kid a break! We have sane people that go mountain climbing, Forrest exploring, and other self induced tragedies on a daily basis. The cost to go find or rescue these dopes are mind boggling, and no one suggest they pay for their stupidity. Most could not even come close, at helicopter cost about $15,000 per hour. Let the kid alone; police should be trained to sniff out Pinocchio's. Lol!.
I guess the police spends a lot of time reading Pinocchio books and watching Pinocchio films. I say toss him back into the forrest for five years as punishment, and lets see just how easily he can survive in those freezing winter temps. The weather alone would tell me he didn't live in the forest for five years.
He's not a kid. He's twenty, on his way to 21. That's an adult. He needs his azz kicked.
I think it was quite an imagineable story line. I see that at least he's using his thoughts that aren't hurtful or damning in any sort of way. Most kids today couldn't think of a story like this to save their I-phones a**es. Let the kid move on with no penalty. Cops didn't have to waste a bunch of time looking for him. Besides that, it kind of shows how slow the system is for someone to show up and take nine months to figure out who he is. Sounds to me he did them a favor by exposing the "inadequate" Germans system! :-)
@Marv Leit, That's Walter Scott not Shakespeare. Just FYI.
My son is nearly 20...still a kid.....sorry, not an adult yet. He's now in University and beginning to learn about being an adult. 21 to drink, even the government here doesn't think 20 is adult......Give me a big fat break, until America is much better, we have no right to judge....AT ALL. And for those advocating hurting this kid, may your Karma come fast and sure, times a-wastin'. The Light Revolution continues and holds no place for hate or violence. The wave has hit.
This reminds me of the famous case of Joseph Ratzinger who was reported missing in 2005. At that time he was an elderly many in his seventies suffering from the beginnings of dementia and delusions of grandeur. There have been purported sightings of him worldwide, but the Germans have never made the attempt to investigate or help reunite this poor man with his family.
There are a number of conspiracy theories related to Ratzinger's disappearance, the most ridiculous of which is that he was kidnapped by the Vatican and kept in hiding to prevent contact with prosecutors from France, Germany, Italy, and many other countries. In this completely unsupported theory, Joseph had accidentally stumbled onto direct knowledge of organized criminal activity that included hundreds of Billions of dollars in fraud. Even worse, by some miracle, he came to learn about a well-organized secret society for the sexual molestation of young boys. Despite all indications that Joseph did not have the mind-set to report such moral depravity, it should have been clear that he wasn't even capable of reporting such odious material to the police. However, according to the theory, the Vatican decided to play it safe and kidnap him any way to make sure the sodomizers of young boys would never be prosecuted.
Anyway, since the Germans blew the Ratzinger case, I'm not surprised that they blew the Forest Boy case.
It is BECAUSE it made headlines that the case was solved. DUH!
Blame it on society like we do here. Such a troubled youth, where did we (Netherlands) go wrong?
That sure solved itself quickly after they released his photo -how bout that!
I was just wondering...
why did he lie about who he was
why did he run away
where is his friend
where are his parents
@ NC open heart: In case you're wondering, 18 is the legal age of majority here in the US, not 21. Just saying. 18 is the legal age to join the military. Even 17-year-olds are charged as adults in felony cases. This (your words) "kid" is an idiot. Send him back to the Netherlands and make him pay back everything he took from Germany, or perhaps you (bleeding heart) should take the "kid" to live with you, but not here in the US.
What a flake. Look @ his s***-eating grin.
Hey, you loser MSNBC writers. People don't "go missing". They disappear, vanish, etc. Learn correct American English.
That's harsh, "American."
A likely stoner...
Yeah, he does look kind of stoned in that picture. It was not made clear if this photo was from when he first "turned up" --or was a more recently taken to aid in getting him IDed (It would explain his "skater boy" haircut, and fairly new shirt, pants, sneakers and that gold chain). That could just be a case of bad reporting/writing. Either way -- his little game is done.
Right--because all stoners flee to the forest and play with their furry friends.
TOOL
The amazing thing is that so many posters knew after the first report that this kid had to be faking. I would like to go on record as saying that I also immediately knew the kid was faking. In fact I knew he was faking even before the first reports came out. Like so many other posters, I knew this kid was a stoner. In fact, I was the first poster to know this.
So many people are now so prescient that it's clear that human evolution is advancing rapidly. It will only take another couple of generations until the common bloke can just look at a kid and tell what prescription medications he's on and which ones he needs but isn't taking.
@Mark: What the %$#@ are you talking about.? Yes, I and many others here knew there was something funny about his whole story when it was reported here a few days ago -- and we have been proven correct -- But no one said they could tell by looking @ him what prescription meds this kid may or not be on (if he needs to be on them is a whole other matter). But it is not reaching to say he looks stoned! Pot is legal in his part of Europe. This was a scam -- What the Germans will do about it is another matter.
Hmmm... The FUNNY thing about this is his police "mug shot." It looks like he is doing all he can to keep himself from bursting out laughing.
A prank is a prank is a prank. However, in this case, he should be charged and forced to repay any costs associated with the incident.
@Painful -- Given your obscenity laced reply, I certainly hope you are not a stoner, but frankly that may be the only explanation.
@Painful. Of course it's not reaching to say he looks stoned. I am in complete agreement with you buddy. If someone is smiling but still has a melancholy look about the eyes he absolutely is a stoner. Right on! There couldn't possibly be any other explanation. It's also of deep concern to me that most posters to MSN have easy access to Pot and Meth. I am so worried that it may be effecting the quality of their posts.
MARK *** Now, that IS a Pinocchio story !!! The one about Joseph R, not the other rant.
@mark-1751582... yep, we're evolving too fast! I expect a visit from the Engineers soon!
I was suspicious about this guy in the first article a few days ago as were many others who were taken to task for daring to think this alleged poor little orphan of the woods could be anything other than a victim.
And now it turns out he's nothing more than a common runaway. An adult runaway, no less. He ought to be presented with a line-item bill for every dollar of wages spent, and cost of equipment used, to track down who he really was.
He probably scored some new sneakers, phone and a laptop from the deal.
I agree. And I too was "taken to task" the other day by some here for have the same suspection and quickly coming to the (correct) conclustio about this young man -- That "five years in the forrest" just did not pass the "smell test" --My first reaction to the article the other day was that he is a runaway (maybe homeless) who knows con folks and weave a decent "story" -- Sure..It is work for him for a while - but modern media caught up with him before too long. Besides, one of his problems was using details from movie(s) that others could and did see too --Guess his home life with his step mom is not so great..Anyways..I am just glad it all ended well.
make him pay!
Wow. Any sympathy I had for this young man has evaporated. He needs to be charged with wasting valuable police resources. Sounds like he might need psychiatric help, too.
Drama...It is what we teach our young people...The world is but a stage...and we...but mere actors. Role playing is taught from infancy to the grave.
Are you plagiarizing or just misquoting?
I believe Ralph is actually William Shatner in disguise.
Yes... Shakespeare said "All the world's a stage"." --With movies, TV, video games, computers, internet, and fairly cheap video equipment tody-- Everybody wants to be a "player". They can see a "cool story"and than think they too can be a "story teller" and a "performer" --Looks easy, fun and rewarding. But as another old saying goes: "There is NO FREE lunch" -- And now I guess he will have to pay his bill.
I totally agree, Ralph. Our youth get so wrapped up in movies and tv shows that they are losing touch with reality. I actually listened to a young man say that life never made sense to him until he watched "the Matrix" and he was going to sit me down and make me watch a whole bunch of movies so that I can learn what life is really all about. He went on and on telling me how each movie compared t life, etc. Then told me that he is the Matrix, he is the Messiah, the anti-Christ, etc etc. He is totally delusional- just as the young man in this story, except I know how this man was raised and it was with a tv as his baby-sitter. A very intelligent man who has now gone off the deep end. THIS IS OUR FUTURE!
Either that or a good kick in the pants!
Maybe they could go "Dutch" and split the costs....
Germans should pay for their stupidity not to figure this one out sooner.
Agreed, they should have published his photo nine months ago and saved everybody a lot of trouble.
Yes, don't know why they waited so long to post his photo. Should have done that months agao -- Once they did that it only took about 48 hours to "solve this mystery" (no pun intended)-
Sounds like the kids mind is in some kind of fantasy world based on his description of living life in the woods. Sounds like thats what he wanted.....a life in the woods. I'm not ruling out some type of psychological malfunction. I know that's not as entertaining as saying he's a lying criminal, but I tend to think outside the box.
I realize that none of us here know anything about this young man or his state of mind or "mental health"(but would think that the German authorities "looked into that) -- Yes, he might have a "problem" -- (or just a good imagination and a bad relationship with his 'family' back home). The point is that some details of his story came right out of a movie. This was a hoax -- nothing much more. He nejoyed the attention and anything he got out of it these past few months (don';t think he was wearing those clothes or had that gold chain while he was "in the woods for five years"). Now he is "in Dutch" with the authories! (lol)
gee ....people on this post are harsh...
this boy obviously has serious problems and will be dealt with by Berlin police
absolutely no need to pounce
unless of course, you are venting your own issues
Sylvia, he's not a boy. He's an adult. He could not have been younger than 19 when he went missing. He's now 20.
He made up a story including burying a body in the woods. In my mind that makes it even more serious. He also had no problems with using the time, money, and other resources of the German police and Interpol. How many other legitimate cases were shelved to pursue this one, which smelled fishy from the beginning? Hopefully none, but it appears that they went to great lengths, including using foster care, to take care of him because he chose to leave home as an adult.
If anything, I think people on these posts are going easy on him, as are German authorities. He ought to be arrested, charged, fined, and billed for what he did.
I guess I do have an "issue" with a self-centered adult cry-baby who played on other people's sympathies and abused the system for 9 months to make his life easy at other's expense.
S. Savage...
one dweeby, mentally imbalanced youth caused the extremely tough Berlin police to measure his circumstances and tread softly
there are much more serious issues worthy of consideration than "forest boy"
I agree..and certainly hope that more important and real cases were not in anyway negativly effected by this little prank. Turns out he is in fact, a adult, not a child --taking advantage of the system there -- He may be "mentally unstable" -- or just a con-man -- that part we are still not sure about @ this point. I just hope this hoax does make Germany cut back on their aid to others more in actual need of help and support.
the Dutch are an amazing people...if there are any adjustments or allowances to make for the care of this young man, they will step up to the plate...always have
& not to worry about the Berlin police...they will probably use this experience for training purposes...they can be an exactling bunch but obviously still have a heart
When it sounds to good to be true it probably is that saying hasn't ever been wrong.
Nut job...
He looked like the Dutch Boy on the paint can. He should pay.
he might have been... huff'n some paint...and forgot who he was...
He looks like the Dutch Boy on the Paint can!
I guess the "paint" has spilled out of the can LOL
..without the wooden shoes
i think requiring him to "pay" is strange. He has psychiatric issues, and so do many people. We don't go around making crazy people pay for being crazy. They're crazy.
Think you are missing the point. He should pay for making the German authories go thru the time and expensive to find out who he really is (when he knew all a long) and for he taking social benefits and the kindeness of society under false pretends. Don't believe that anyone want hin to pay for being "mentally ill" --which has not even been proven to be the case-- this is more likely a prank/scam/hoax and con-job -not the acts of a sick person.
How come the Germans couldn't figure out that his native language was Dutch. Did he speak so perfect English? And with all the evidence they had (phone, computer). This case is somewhat of an embarrassment to the German investigators.
Im not saying thier the number one investigative force world wide, but an English accent is easy to use if you are trained. I know a couple of Dutch that speak excellent english. Its hard for them to learn because of the sharp sound and the tongue movement but they can do it. I mean look at actors like Mel Gibson, Jude Law, the singer Adele. They are just a few that can switch accents no problem. Hell the first time I heard Adele host a radio show I didnt even know it was her. To say Cockney would be an understatement. Oh, just thought. Ozzy cant understand a word he says, but when he sings its perfect english.
Why would you think that Americans are able to duplicate European accents but not expect that Europeans could speak another language without an accent? People in Germany and the Netherlands are taught English from a very early age and many can speak with very little indication that they are not American. Your lack of worldly knowledge is showing.
Why perfect English???? He could have spoken perfect, well, German!! Lol!
Really5404256, I know what I am talking about..Dutch don't loose their accent quickly, even if they live in America, or England. This 20 year old boy had an accent, no doubt.
Happy2008: Glad you could come to the party -- You are kind of way too late since everything you are saying now was commented on two days ago when this story was first posted here (before his ID was found). The original storty stated he spoke very good English with an accent they could not be exactly place, but was not Americna or British (which made some suspect he was Dutch right away -- since they can speak English well) -- Many Western Europeans, especially the younger people can speak a few languages well -- unlike most Americans.
Most Dutch learn English from a very early age, so it's entirely likely that he spoke without any specific "accent". It IS one of his "native" languages. It seems to have been his combination of fluency and no particular regional accent that made him hard to place.
The Painful Truth-271288, you must be unemployed, and German. The fact that the Germans had to get the whole world involved to resolve this rather obvious case is, well, an embarrassment.
I figured something was up about this one. Yes young people can pick up on technology quickly, but come on that fast? I agree with some of the posts. He's a stoner who wanted to go out and live the lifestyle but got fed up with it. He wanted his internet and cell phone back. Well, least it was a couple days of a good story. I still like my conspiracy story though. He was there to meet the wack job they arrested in Berlin. Way more interesting than adult ran away.
Now how about we do some research and find out why he did this or if any parts of his story are true. Did his mom really die when he was younger? Is he suffering from a mental illness? What's his history?
He has a "step-mother" so there is a chance that some monor details of his story is based on fact or his past -- Did anyone ever see "the Usual Suspects"?(SPOILER ALERT) The character made up his long, complex story based on stuff he saw in the room while he was talking to the cops -- it was not tue -- and no one noticed. This young man has a good imagination and has seen a few movies in his time -- details of his "forrest" experienc came right out of a movie!
....I did not know that there were Forests left in Europe....
You need to get out more. Or maybe just read a bit?
And you need to develop a sense of humor and sarcasm.
mananon: tongue in cheek
knock... knock...
Yes.. there one in Germany called "the Black Forrest". Google it!
Before we call for blood here, let's consider that this young man may have a legitimate psychiatric illness. It is possible for individuals to create a completely new identity for themselves under times of stress. He may actually believe what he's saying, and to condemn him before we know the facts may be denying a mentally ill young man the help he needs.
Un-Registard,
"He may actually believe what he's saying, and to condemn him before we know the facts may be denying a mentally ill young man the help he needs."
That's very true, and that's what disappointed me about the article. It kind of left you asking why a boy would do such a thing, but it gave not a clue as to the reason. It seems to me that by now the police should have at least some idea of why he might have done this.
Mickey..."they" may never know why ...
unfortunately, not everything has a logical explanation
READ the story -- he knew he was making the whole thing up -- he admitted as much after being caught and he realzied the gig was up on his hoaz-- it was not a case of "mental decay' or five years in the woods -- it was a clever con --taking advantage of the social programs of another country.
He's had is 15 minutes.
My last post on this subject...I knew this boy was lying. I saw this whole story in a movie about 4 moths ago on netflix.
was it called "hannah" by chance? because it sounds kinda like some of that story too.
I was wondering why know one caught that myself.
next he gets a book deal -- "Forrest Boy - How I faked out the Germans for fun and personal profit" --soon to be a major motion picture!
i knew it! he should be made to pay dearly. pretending he was 17 would guarantee him some kind of care, shelter, food, etc...with him doing nothing to get it. he knew this too. now he needs to man up, get a job, and take care of himself
He would also be entitled to care, shelter and food if he were 40, 50, or 60 years old. To show up in another country at the age of 19 is not exactly an easy thing to do. Obviously he has some serious issues to deal with of which we know nothing about. I don't condemn a kid over a piece of bread. You people make me sick.
bisam...thank you for your post...I agree
so many people here who are so quick to condemn
I agree with bisam and Sylvia. What happened to compassion?
I, like linda, also say we assume the worst about this kid and condemn him right away. If we turn out to be wrong and end up destroying his life, we'll just fix it by taking him out for ice-cream. He still pays for his cone. Wouldn't want to encourage any sort of dependency! We of course won't admit to being judgemental. That would be wrong.
Mark, Linda, etc: You clearly are missing the whole point of what happended here -- he was not really in the forrest for five years nor did he really lost his memory! He ran a way from home, went to Germany, (which is like going to NJ from NYC) He hid out in the woods for a day or two and came out and told the authorities a made up story to get social programs and maybe a little attention. It was a hoax, a scam --If he, in fact is "troubled" than I am all for him getting help --just like anyone else who really needed hep and support (no matter their age, race gender) I (and many here0 have compassion those people in real need -- the point here (and as many, like myself saw from the start) is that this case was a con job, fake out for personal gain, --Or are you saying that anyone can come to your house when ever they want and take all your food, money and valuable -- and then go happly back on their way hysr because they they thought it would be fun and for no other reason) -- Situations like this one makes it bad for those who are really in need, And give ammo to those who want to cut social programs. It i not a rush to unfair judgment -- when we were right all a long!
The Painful Truth
it is truly painful indeed to read your post and discover how clever you were all along and how inept everyone else is on "the other side of the pond"
setting yourself up as an arm-chair quarterback re the Berlin police....so nice for them to read how dumb they are and how smart you are in these matters
of course, that's because you have a perfect vantage point from which to pass judgements upon other nations re sustaining social programs
(sarcasm)
He will make a fine liberal politician. Not quite as good as Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid, but he lies as well as the best of them.
Yes, because The Netherlands is part of America.
When some people open their mouth all you hear is an AM radio.
Yes, Jack because Republicans never lie. If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you and some nice waterfront property in Florida as well.
Where is the Father?
Where is the father?
I heard on ABC this morning that his father died of natural causes during the time his son was "missing".
wow that's really sad.
So he basically gave the authorities the set up from the 2011 movie “Hanna” and no one caught it?