Disappeared while returning from Germany

 Two years of agonising waiting and hope for Zbigniew Kozubiński's family came to an end in the most tragic way possible. The body of the young man, who mysteriously disappeared while returning from Germany, was found on April 17, 2026. Although his loved ones believed he would make it home, the truth proved tragic.

In March 2024, then 27-year-old Zbigniew Kozubiński left to work on a farm near Krefeld. This city, with a population of over 200,000, is located in North Rhine-Westphalia (western Germany, near the border with the Netherlands). Initially, reports from his family were optimistic – the work with cattle proved difficult, but his co-workers were said to be friendly. Over time, however, anxiety began to dominate Zbigniew's voice. In conversations with his mother, he mentioned that "something wasn't right." He reportedly feared for his safety. However, it's not entirely clear what the reason was, and in any case, the details have not been made public.

On April 23, 2024, just a few weeks after his arrival, Zbigniew decided to return to Poland. Witnesses who saw him on the bus described a disturbing sight: visible signs of beatings, bruises, and a swollen face. The man gave various reasons for these injuries: sometimes he mentioned a bicycle accident or falling out of bed. Other times he admitted to being beaten. During a transfer in the Fredersdorf-Vogelsdorf area (approximately 25 kilometers from Berlin), a series of events occurred that remain unexplained to this day.

Zbigniew got off the bus, leaving practically all his most important personal belongings behind – a backpack with documents, money, and clothes. He also didn't board the vehicle that was supposed to take him home. The 27-year-old was last seen wandering around a local supermarket. However, the young Pole refused to call for medical help. He also declined an offer to stay at the apartment of a woman who was concerned about his condition. Zbigniew contacted his family that day. However, his last phone call was very chaotic. The terrified man reported being in the woods. This was consistent with the accounts of witnesses who saw him flee in that direction. By the next morning, his phone was unavailable.

Over the next two years, the case received widespread attention from organizations searching for missing persons. An unconfirmed account also emerged from a witness who claimed to have seen Zbigniew on a train from Berlin to Wrocław. The man asked to borrow his cell phone to contact a loved one. He claimed he had been robbed and was returning to Gniezno. This information could indeed point to the missing man, giving the family false hope that he was still alive and somewhere in Poland.

The truth came to light on March 21, 2026. That's when his body was found in the Vogelsdorf area, near where he was last seen. On April 14, German authorities finally confirmed the deceased's identity based on DNA testing. This information soon spread to Polish media.

After conducting a thorough investigation, German police officially closed the case. Officers stated that the evidence gathered did not indicate third-party involvement or criminal wrongdoing. Despite earlier signs of assault observed by witnesses on the bus, investigators found no direct connection between the injuries and the death in the forest.

The body of 29-year-old Zbigniew Kozubiński has been released to his family and is being held at a funeral home in Strausberg. It will be transported to Poland in the coming week. Two years after his disappearance, Zbigniew will return to his hometown of Gniezno, where a funeral service will be held.  Residents of Gniezno and those involved in the search will be able to bid farewell to him at a ceremony, the date of which will be announced in the coming days.