Overwhelmed by the medical care of his disabled son, he killed him before killing himself in Dendermonde: “In recent months, it was more and more difficult”
There is incomprehension in Appels, a small, peaceful neighborhood of Dendermonde. A 77-year-old man killed his disabled 52-year-old son before ending his life.
Published on 10/29/2024 at 7:15 p.m.
A 77-year-old man killed his disabled 52-year-old son in Appels, a section of the town of Dendermonde, in East Flanders, then ended his life, prosecutors said on Tuesday.
The two bodies were discovered by the emergency services on Monday shortly before midday in the Heidestraat in Appels.
Terrible family drama this afternoon in Dendermonde: a father kills his disabled son before committing suicide
The man’s wife, also aged 77, was not present at the time of the incident.
“A very warm family”
The day after this family tragedy, there was incomprehension in the small residential area. “The couple was committed to the son for their entire lives,” a neighbor told HLN. “He had to benefit from a lot of care and the parents did their best to make sure he was well. But over the past few months and weeks, it seemed to be getting harder and harder. It was a very warm family and very attached to their son. »
According to the neighborhood, the man had already mentioned suicidal thoughts in the past due to his son’s heavy medical care. The septuagenarian was also plagued by health concerns and had recently been hospitalized for a hip problem. He had refused to have surgery, not wanting to leave his wife alone responsible for their son’s care. “They have been going out less and less lately because things are not going so well,” concludes another neighbor. “It’s so sad. »
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