Missing Frýdek-Místek woman found dead after monthlong search

A 38-year-old woman missing from Frýdek-Místek for nearly a month has been found dead in a wooded area on the outskirts of the city, police confirmed Friday.

Her body was discovered Thursday evening in difficult terrain in Frýdecký les. Forensic testing subsequently confirmed her identity, bringing an extensive search involving dozens of officers to an end.

Police believe the woman died on Sept. 3, the day she disappeared. The precise cause and circumstances of her death remain under investigation, and officers have not yet ruled out the involvement of another person.

The woman’s husband reported her missing shortly before 9 a.m. on Sept. 3 after she left home but failed to arrive at her job as a judicial assistant at the Regional Court in Ostrava.

Police eventually traced her last known movements toward Frýdecký les by analyzing security-camera footage. A 14th coordinated search was subsequently directed toward the area.

The body was located after a specially trained police dog detected a scent in dense undergrowth and led its handler to the site. Officers said the area was so overgrown and inaccessible that earlier aerial searches had failed to detect her.

“It is not a place suitable for walking. It is practically impossible to move through the location, and the terrain is difficult,” Moravian-Silesian police chief Tomáš Kužel said.

Police believe the woman reached the site on foot. Three knives previously reported missing from her home were found near the body, but investigators have not disclosed how she died or drawn any public conclusions from their discovery.

Police had examined more than 2,000 hours of camera footage and assessed hundreds of tips during the search. More than 60 detectives worked on the case, while drones, divers, dog handlers, and aviation units searched approximately 220 square kilometers.

Searches covered parks, forests, waterways, railway areas, mountain cottages, medical facilities, shelters, and properties connected with the family. The woman was also entered into the Schengen-wide missing-person database.

Police had previously said she was experiencing psychological difficulties before her disappearance and had attempted to seek professional assistance. Investigators nevertheless considered several possible explanations, including an accident, self-harm, or criminal involvement.

An autopsy has been performed, but police said Friday that the cause of death remains under review. They will not release further details for the time being out of respect for the surviving family.

The official police notice thanks members of the public for providing information during the search and asks media outlets and social media users to remove the woman’s photograph and personal information now that the missing-person appeal has ended.