The teenager’s family received a ransom demand a short time later, police said.

‘We are working on the assumption it is Anneli, ‘ said police spokesman Thomas Knaup.

Police believe they have found the body of Anneli-Marie R.

The story made headlines across Germany after it was revealed the girl’s alleged kidnappers had demanded 1.2 million euros (A$1.8m) for her return.

The teenage daughter of a wealthy German businessman was killed during a botched kidnapping attempt, police said today after a four-day intense search that gripped the nation.

She had been out walking her dog in the countryside on Thursday night when she disappeared.

Two men, ages 39 and 61, were subsequently arrested in the Saxon capital, Dresden, and in the southern state of Bavaria.

They also told the suspects: “The kidnappers should know that we will fulfill the stipulated demands in order to be able to have our child back in our arms soon”. Anneli-Marie’s parents pleaded with her abductors and promised to give them the money.

On Sunday, police released a statement by the family asking the public for clues and directly addressing those who had abducted the girl.

Her bicycle was later found in a ditch and the dog turned up alive on Monday afternoon in a field. “We are with you”.

In June, kidnappers abucted Markus Wurth, the mentally disabled son of a well-known billionaire, and demanded €2m for his released, but let him go after losing their nerve.

In 2010 kidnappers murdered Maria Bögerl, a wealthy banker’s wife, even though a ransom of €300,000 was paid.