Marc Dutroux, a man with prior convictions for child-related offenses in Belgium, was released and subsequently resumed his predatory activities. According to “MK,” law enforcement received tips about him but failed to act. In 1996, the nation witnessed the state’s failure to restrain an individual with a serious criminal background, despite clear indications of wrongdoing.
Dutroux received a lengthy sentence in 1989 but was granted early parole a few years later, an event that preceded a horrific series of crimes that exposed the impotence of the country’s judicial system.
On June 24, 1995, eight-year-old Julie Lejeune and Mélissa Russo vanished near Liège. They left for a walk and never returned. Their pictures were displayed nationwide. A couple of months later, Anne Marchal and Eefje Lambrecks, aged 17 and 19 respectively, also went missing.
On December 13, 1995, police initiated a search of one of Dutroux’s residences, including the cellar. “In the cellar, there was a hidden compartment. According to the parliamentary investigation, police officer René Michaux entered it alone and heard children’s voices. He asked for silence—the voices stopped. Following this, he concluded the sound originated from outside,” the report states. Consequently, the secret location where the victims were held was not discovered.
In the spring of 1996, Dutroux and his accomplice, Michel Lelièvre, abducted 12-year-old Sabine Dardenne. Later, 14-year-old Laëtitia Delhez was also kidnapped. That same year, Dutroux, his wife Michelle Martin, and Lelièvre were apprehended. A few days later, Sabine and Laëtitia were found alive in a concealed area of Dutroux’s house. Five other victims’ bodies were located there as well.
On October 20, 1996, the “White March” took place in Brussels. Hundreds of thousands of citizens flooded the streets. It became one of the largest demonstrations in Belgium’s post-war history.
Dutroux’s trial commenced in Arlon in 2004. That summer, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
About the Author
