The case of the missing and later killed Gino (9) is not the first file in which the name of Donny M. (22) appears as a suspect. He was already convicted in 2017 for abusing and mistreating two boys in Sittard.
This is apparent from documents in the hands of L1 and discussions with the parties involved. Phil Boonen, lawyer for one of the victims, confirms the conviction.
Also read: Gino family: ‘We are in shock and intensely sad’
Gino disappeared
In the night from Friday to Saturday, Donny was arrested at his home in Geleen on suspicion of kidnapping and killing Gino. The nine-year-old boy disappeared in Kerkrade on Wednesday evening after he had entertained himself with other children in a playground on Zonstraat.
Place designated
After his arrest, suspect Donny pointed the police to the spot where Gino was lying. There, behind houses in the Geleense Opbraakstraat, officers found the boy’s body. It’s not clear if Donny confessed to killing Gino. Lawyers Sjanneke de Crom and Maikel Horsch say they will not answer questions for the next three weeks.
Two victims
L1 previously revealed that Donny is known to the police and the judiciary. This was confirmed at a police press conference on Saturday afternoon. Court documents also show that the suspect has a past with underage victims. On June 28, 2017, the then 17-year-old Donny threatened, assaulted and abused two boys in Sittard. The mother of one of the boys also confirms this.
Conviction
In December of that year, the judge in Maastricht sentenced M. to almost five months in juvenile detention and in addition clinical treatment at the Catamaran in Eindhoven, an institution that offers mental health care to young people up to 23 years old.
No juvenile detention center
At the time, Donny also faced a three-year placement in a juvenile detention center, but that measure was imposed conditionally. Later he would often find the police in his path, for example driving without a driver’s license. On Tuesday or Wednesday, the young person in his twenties will be brought before the investigating judge in the Gino case.