Finnish police suspect missing Karf family hiding in Sweden

Finnish police believe the Karf family, who vanished from western Finland over two years ago, may be hiding in Sweden, according to an interview the Ostrobothnia police communications chief gave to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.

Mikael Appel, head of communications for the Ostrobothnia police department, told the paper that Sweden’s proximity and the family’s Swedish-language skills support the theory. “Almost everyone there has family and friends, and it’s more likely to get help from someone you know than from strangers,” Appel said.

Investigators have reviewed public surveillance footage but have not confirmed whether they have examined recordings from ferry crossings or border checkpoints. “Going through film material is extremely labor-intensive,” Appel noted, adding that without knowing which vehicle or time frame to target, the search becomes even more difficult.

Police have received nearly 400 tips in the case, which Appel described as unprecedented in his over 20 years of service. “We expected a quick resolution. We didn’t think such a large group could stay missing for so long,” he said.

The family of ten—eight children and their parents—disappeared from their home in Lövö, Pedersöre, in early 2024. An Interpol global missing persons alert remains active for the children. Finnish media, including Yle, have previously reported that the disappearance followed a prolonged dispute over homeschooling, with authorities seeking to place the children in municipal schools.