A month after the fatal Schellinkhout fire: Edilene, illegal habitation and a silent owner

January 29: fire on the Dorpsweg

On the night of January 28 to 29, there burn out in one of the units on the Dorpsweg in Schellinkhout. The units at the front part of the business park have no chance against the flames, the other two buildings can be saved by the fire brigade. During post-extinguishing, the body of a dead man or woman found it. Another tenant – Sergei – lives in another block and can escape through the meadow with his son.

Many tenants, business or hobby, see their belongings go up in smoke. So is Kevin Visser, who is opposite NH News responds when it is not yet known that a person has died in the fire. Together with his father, he restored old-timers and saw his savings go up in smoke.

January 30: Extensive investigation

On the Monday after the fire, the grounds are teeming with police officers. A large-scale investigation is being carried out into the fire. Meanwhile there are many questions. Rumors soon spread about illegal occupation on the property, which are confirmed by neighbors and tenants.

There are also stories that the owner of the business park initially told the emergency services that there were no people in the units. This has had no influence on the approach to the fire, says Annerieke Dekker of the Security Region. The owner himself is silent and refuses any comment.

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January 31: anonymous reports to the municipality

The municipality of Drechterland has over the past year several anonymous reports about illegal occupation in the business units, confirms mayor Michiel Pijl.

Checks were carried out on the basis of these anonymous reports. Both during the day and in the evening. Enforcement also visited the site several times to see if there were any signs of illegal occupation on the site. “But we have not been able to establish that the units were inhabited,” says Pijl

February 1: ‘owner knew it, 100 percent’

From conversations with various tenants, a picture emerges that quite a few people were aware of the fact that people were staying in the business units. Tenants knew, but according to them also the owner. “One hundred percent. He comes here literally every day. Then you really know what is happening and who is there.”

Meanwhile, the police announce that DNA testing must establish the identity of the fatal victim. The technical investigation has been completed. Due to the intensity of the fire, it is not possible to determine where the fire started. However, further investigations are underway to determine whether criminal offenses have been committed.

February 10: who died?

It is still not known who died in the blaze. A DNA test should provide a definite answer. “We have someone in mind,” says police spokesman Joey Brink a little less than two weeks after the fire. “But comparison material is not easy to find. It takes time and we are busy with it. Only when it is 100 percent sure who it is about will we publish it.”

February 13: town hall meeting

On 8 February – a week and a half after the fire – the municipality of Drechterland carried out an integral check, looking for traces of illegal habitation. Residential facilities were found in several units. One of the residents is Sergej, who has been living in an apartment opposite since August 2021 NH News tells his story. He has to leave his house, otherwise a penalty will follow.

On 13 February there will be a meeting at the town hall of Drechterland, which will mainly be attended by tenants. Those involved are updated on the incident with terrible consequences. The municipality says it will thoroughly evaluate the fire.

February 18: family Edilene in uncertainty for weeks

On the day that the fire brigade found the remains in the ruins, the telephone rang at Antoon Moorman in Lelystad. The person who died during the flames is ‘99.9 percent’ his wife Edilene (38), the police inform him. Antoon describes the Brazilian as a ‘young, cheerful woman who worked hard’.

Her sister Marilene also says from Brazil that she is intensely sad. “My sister is part of me, she is my life. She will always be.”

After the fire, the relatives are torn apart by devastating uncertainty. It takes a long time before DNA can be taken from Marilene and her brother. “We don’t know what to do. We don’t leave the house anymore, hoping that at any moment the phone will ring so that we can provide DNA.”

February 25: Edilene’s identity confirmed

The DNA test has been completed. The police say that it is indeed a 38-year-old woman from Lelystad go. The family in Brazil finally has clarity: it is Edilene.

The owner of the business park still chooses not to comment.

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One month after the fire, there are still many questions. How the fire started and why Edilene could not escape in time, we will never know. It is known that no one is being prosecuted criminally. It is known that several duped tenants are considering holding the owner liable.