A 54-year-old real estate agent killed his partner, their one-year-old daughter and his 13-year-old stepson. These murders probably took place in a context of domination: the man would have chosen to take the life of his partner and the children because he refused to let her leave him. It would then be feminicide.
The events occurred in the town of Ixelles, in a large mansion on Avenue Jeanne. On Saturday, the police received a call from a worried family member. After long discussions with the real estate agent, they managed to gain access to the premises. On site, they discovered the bodies of a 40-year-old woman and two children: a 1-year-old baby and a 13-year-old teenager. The woman and baby were killed the day before by a gunshot to the head, while the teenager, from a previous relationship, was allegedly poisoned. Additional investigations are still underway on this subject.
On social networks, he publishes messages evoking his family happiness
Earlier on Friday evening, the real estate agent had published numerous family photos on social networks as well as messages highlighting the happiness he said he experienced with his family. It may have been these messages that worried the family member who alerted the police.
According to our colleagues from De Standaard, the suspect had written on the walls of the house that he was “sorry” for his actions. When the police picked him up, he offered no resistance and immediately admitted the facts.
Neighbors shocked
On site, a neighbor claimed that it was a “family home”. “They looked completely normal…”he testifies. Another resident says to herself “upset”. “We live in a horrible world”, she laments. “What strikes me the most are the children. I don’t understand. Let them settle their affairs, but the children…”
The mayor of Ixelles also visited the site. “We are all parents, many of us are parents. Even when we are not, telling ourselves that we can shoot a child, a one-year-old baby, a 13-year-old child, a 40-year-old woman, no matter the age, it ‘is dramatic…”, he confided to our microphone. “I also think of the women and men, the police officers, who intervene in these types of circumstances.”
An investigating judge was requested for murders. The investigation is ongoing and, in the interest of the investigation and out of respect for the family, the prosecution has not released any further details at this time.
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