Wakayama Prefectural Police said on Monday that a 21-year-old German university student who was visiting Wakayama City, has been missing since Oct 11.
Police are appealing to the public for any information on Claudio Worm, believing he may have been involved in an accident or crime.
According to the prefectural police, Worm arrived in Japan on Sept 21 for a vacation. He first spent time in Tokyo and had been staying in Wakayama City since Sept 30, TV Asahi reported. At around 8:30 p.m. on Oct 11, security camera footage showed him walking alone near Nankai Wakayama City Station in Higashikuramae-cho, Wakayama City.
On Oct 12, Worm’s passport and mobile phone were found in a multi-purpose toilet in the city.
Police said Worm is 170-180 cm tall, of medium build, with blonde or brown hair. At the time, he was wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt, white pants and a dark backpack.
Anyone with any information about Worm is asked to call the Wakayama Prefectural Police Personal Safety Division (073-423-0110) or Wakayama Nishi Police Station (073-424-0110).
© Japan Today
14 Comments
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nandakandamanda
Hoping they find him.
finally rich
I read about this on FB (Japan Expat Network)
Gaijinjland
Japan doesn’t have a good track record of finding foreigners who go missing.
OssanAmerica
Hope they find him. But unfortunately the passport and phone suggests foul play.
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Arvin Caberte
Just out of the box , let's assume this is a foul play , if you are the criminal victimizing Claudio Worm , where would you hide the person body in Wakayama within 3-5 km from the last place of his known presence?
The Opinionator
Every one has an opinion. Mine is Suicide!
Daninthepan
Please be sensitive with your comments: foreign media outlets are fairly few and far between in Japan and there is a high chance his family and friends may be reading this article.
Pretty sure the thoughts and prayers of all the foreign community are with him and his family.
Unfortunately, proactively there is little we can do other than share this type of article on our social medias etc.
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Hawk
I hope he's found safe and sound.
Albert
@Daninthepan
Best comment. All the random comments doesn't help.
Most people here have emphasis and cannot consider the possible impact their comments have.
On topic
Hopefully he will be found.
masterblaster
He's a pretty big guy and seems healthy. If indeed a crime occurred it suggests multiple attackers.
Was the multipurpose toilet near the station? That could be a big clue.
Yohan
I also read about him and that he disappeared but his passport and mobile phone were found in a multi-purpose toilet. Since 11th October nothing else is known about him. Without any trace since 2 weeks.
There is a large river (Kinokawa) not far from the other side of the railway station, and also sport facilities and a park with a multi-purpose toilet are there and a bridge over the river for pedestrians only. I doubt however he will go there at 8:30 PM, it is dark, nobody there, nothing to see, nothing to do.
I am sure police did a search in this wide park area along the river already.
I have no idea what could have happened to him.
wallace
An American woman, Patricia “Pattie” Wu-Murad, went missing in Wakayama. Recently items of her clothing were found.
Zaphod
Christopher
Who would want to abduct a German tourist and why? I have no pet theory, but abduction seems pretty unlikely.