Three men are due to offer their pleas after they were charged with the murder of an employee at Emmen’s youth care facility in January, 2023, RTV Drenthe reports today.
A 16-year-old from Ruinerwold and two Emmen residents, both 19, were charged with murder in March, two months after police received a report of a stabbing in the youth institution.
Emergency services attended and found 26-year-old Marit van K. who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The three alleged perpetrators are expected to appear at the Assen court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing. According to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), the teanagers have been charged not only with the stabbing, but also the robbery of a McDonald’s restaurant and a violent theft in Veenoord. The 19-year-olds are also accused of a street robbery in Emmen’s Angelslo neighborhood. Furthermore, the OM suspects them of an attempted robbery at a gas station in Emmen. Two of the young people also took another person in the care facility hostage around the time of the stabbing.
The three teenagers are alleged to have attacked and killed Marit van K., their supervisor at the Yorneo child and youth care center, on January 14. The Yorneo facility provides “family assistance with accommodation” to young people between 12 and 18, according to its website.
Police said a young girl had raised the alarm after she witnessed the incident. A rapid response unit arrived on the scene shortly after receiving the 112 call around 8:30pm. The first alleged perpetrator was located on an Emmen street and taken into custody. The second suspect was arrested later in the night in Meppel while the third one was detained a week later.
