A missing teenage girl is believed to have been murdered, with the police saying that the prime suspect is a 42-year-old football coach who reportedly had an affair with her.

Kezhia Henke, aged 19, from the town of Salzwedel, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, was allegedly murdered by Tino B., 42, who was arrested on Thursday, 23rd March.

German media have reported that nearly three weeks after she disappeared, detectives now think that she was the victim of homicide.

Prosecutor Thomas Kramer told local media: “We have a 42-year-old suspect. There were searches today at the man’s place of residence. It is being investigated for a homicide. The body has not been found at this time.”

Kezhia had reportedly wanted to go to see a football match with her boyfriend in Wolfsburg on 5th March, to see the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt.

It is still currently unclear if she saw the match before she disappeared.

Kezhia was reported missing in Wolfsburg by her boyfriend, who has not been named, and in Stendal by her mother, also unnamed.

Jeannine Stage-Breuer from the Stendal Police Station said on Wednesday, 22nd March: “Despite the search measures that have been going on for more than two weeks, we are still treating the case as a missing persons matter.”

And on Thursday, 23rd March, Tino B. allegedly confessed to the police that he had murdered the teenager.

Local media say that it is thought that the pair might have had an affair.

Kezhia’s friend Sabrina Scheffler, 22, told local media: “Just disappearing, turning off her mobile phone, that doesn’t suit her. She was absolutely reliable and is a regular referee on the football field with us in Kloetze.”

Newsflash obtained a prior statement from the Salzwedel Police Station dated 10th March, asking members of the public for information about the missing girl and saying: “On Tuesday afternoon, 19-year-old Kezhia Henke from Kloetze was reported missing to the police.

“According to current knowledge, the woman was last seen in Kloetze on Saturday, 4th March, 2023.

“Kezhia Henke is about 1.55 metres tall, has brown hair and glasses. She was last dressed in a grey Adidas jacket, light trousers and white shoes. She was also carrying a grey backpack.

“There are currently no clues as to the whereabouts of the 19-year-old. The previous search measures by the police, in which a tracking dog was used, have so far been unsuccessful. Therefore, the public is now asked for help.”

The investigation is ongoing.