A German? Nobody misses the dead teddy bear man

Hol (Norway) - He has the sweet name "Teddy Bear Man", but the story behind it is tragic. The fate of a young man whose body was found in a national park has been unknown for more than 30 years. However, several signs indicate that he was German.

In 1992, a male body was found in the picturesque Hardangervidda National Park.
In 1992, a male body was found in the picturesque Hardangervidda National Park.  © IMAGO / Essler

The Hardangervidda National Park in south-western Norway, which is part of the largest plateau in Europe, covers 3400 square meters. This is where two hunters find scraps of cloth and human bones on the evening of September 12, 1992.

The alerted police waited for sunrise and then set off into the picturesque landscape, which is popular with hikers and also made headlines in 2016 due to the lightning deaths of 323 reindeer.

"We saw no tent, no sleeping bag," recounts Torstein Seim, a police officer at the time, in the ZDF series "True Crime". "We found a map, but no proper equipment that you actually need here in the mountains."

At least he was wearing good shoes.

Finding the mortal remains in September 1992.
Finding the mortal remains in September 1992.  © Norge Politiet

Dead teddy bear man from Norway: Several leads lead to Germany

This teddy bear, possibly made in Thuringia, was found next to the deceased.
This teddy bear, possibly made in Thuringia, was found next to the deceased.  © Norge Politiet

A teddy bear about 40 centimetres tall lies at the site where the body was found, 1200 meters above sea level. "It was old, its arms and legs had been repaired. Maybe it was a mascot," says Torstein Seim, a police officer at the time, in the ZDF series "True Crime".

It is suspected that the stuffed animal could have been produced in Sonneberg in southern Thuringia in the 1950s.

And Teddy is not the only indication that the man, who was in his early 20s and whose cause of death could not be determined, may have come from Germany or may have last lived here.

He was wearing size 40 1/2 Mephisto shoes, a rain cape and winter gloves - from three different German manufacturers. The wholemeal bread found on him was also produced in Germany, and his Italian jeans were also sold in Germany during this period.

To this day, the identity of the man and the circumstances of his death remain unclear. However, the investigators are not giving up hope that the truth will come to light.

The man was apparently also carrying this wholemeal bread packaging.
The man was apparently also carrying this wholemeal bread packaging.  © Norge Politiet

Streaming tip: You can watchthe complete new episode of the documentary "True Crime" with further criminal cases at any time in the ZDFmediathek.