Spa patrons at Rulantica, predominantly females, were tricked and subjected to mistreatment
A 31-year-old Romanian man, wanted for the sexual assault of a 6-year-old girl at Rulantica water park, was arrested in Romania on August 15, 2025. The arrest followed an international search and an arrest warrant issued by German authorities.
The incident, which took place at Rulantica, an affiliated water park of Europa-Park in South Baden, has drawn widespread attention amid concerns about cross-border migrant-related offenses.
On Saturday evening, the girl went missing from Rulantica. She was later found about five kilometers from the park in the late evening, unharmed except for the assault. The suspect, believed to reside in the region, allegedly lured the girl into a nearby forest around 8:20 PM, where he coerced her into performing sexual acts.
The girl navigated through the forest in the dark, wearing only her bathing suit and flip-flops. She was found two hours later, having lost sight of her parents in the water park.
The suspect was identified through surveillance videos from the park's operator. He had a prior criminal record related to theft and fraud but was not previously known for sexual offenses.
The girl's mental state is not good after the traumatic experience, but physically, she does not appear to have sustained major injuries. The suspect left his victim behind after the assault and reportedly fled back to Romania.
Europa-Park and Rulantica staff have been deeply affected and have cooperated closely with the investigation. The park continues to collaborate with law enforcement agencies.
The name "Rulantica" is a play on words combining "Rust" and "Atlantic". The water park opened in Rust in November 2019. This case has highlighted concerns about the safety of water parks and public pools, with similar incidents recently reported in Germany and nearby Swiss pools.
It is unclear if the suspect has been questioned yet by German authorities. A Romanian court has ordered his extradition to Germany, expected to happen within ten days of the ruling, with German and Romanian officials coordinating the handover.
- The health-and-wellness industry, particularly water parks and public pools, has been under scrutiny following the sexual assault incident at Rulantica water park in Germany.
- The crime-and-justice community is closely monitoring the extradition process of the 31-year-old Romanian man arrested for the sexual assault of a minor, as it sets a precedent for cross-border cooperation in cases involving migrant-related offenses.
- In addition to the general news about the arrest and extradition, the science and technology sector has been involved in the investigation, with the use of surveillance footage from the park's operator proving essential in identifying the suspect.
