Belgian justice now wants to participate in the investigation led by the Spanish authorities, while the body of the retiree’s husband is still actively sought on the island. Since April 22, 2024, Marc, 71, and Laura, 66, a Belgian couple living on the island of Tenerife, have disappeared. Only the woman’s dismembered body was found.
The investigation carried out in Tenerife to understand what happened to a couple of Belgian retirees, of whom we had not heard since April 22, is it moving towards one of their tenants, after the discovery of Laura’s dismembered body, both legs and one hand amputated, with a plastic bag over her head?
The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office takes up the case
This is what several Belgian media are suggesting this Saturday morning, which are following the progress of this affair very closely, in which Brussels will now officially take an interest: according to RTL Info, the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office is now joining the investigation conducted on site.
“From the moment it became apparent that it was indeed a homicide, a potentially violent death in any case, the case was taken over by the federal prosecutor’s office with all the means at its disposal” a spokesperson tells our colleagues. “It is an advantage for the families because they have the certainty that there is a Belgian judicial eye, which will attend this investigation. For the families, it is rather reassuring.”
Disappeared after leaving for their yoga class
On site, investigations are continuing to understand what could have happened to this very well-connected retired couple. : Laura Trappeniers (66 years old) and her husband Marc Olbrechts (71 years old) who disappeared after going to their yoga class, have lived on the island since 2009, where they are said to own two villas: the one in which they live , and another, which serves as a painting workshop for Marc, and which they sometimes rent out, according to RTL.
Laura was worried about her tenant
This second building is now also sealed. Still according to RTL, on the day of the disappearance, a Belgian man, probably from Eastern countries, took possession of the premises. Laura reportedly told one of her friends that she was worried and that she hoped she would not find the house empty. It was the last time she gave any sign of life.
As for the famous tenant, he was not seen by any neighbors. According to HLN, the police are investigating in particular the images from the cameras of the island’s catering establishments.
The couple’s car has not been found
The authorities have still not found the couple’s dark blue Opel Mokka, which is surprising to the public. “We are on an island here. How come this car hasn’t been found yet?”asks Tessa Rens, a journalist from VTM News present on site.
In the meantime, those close to Laura and Marc are not reassured. “I haven’t slept in nights because of it. You wake up with it and you go to sleep with it,” confides a woman, a friend of the couple. “We are sure that Marc must have died somewhere in the water. They must have both been murdered”estimates another of their relatives.
Police are also examining the couple’s bank details and life insurance policies to see if any unusual activity has taken place.
