The arrest of the suspect in the Gino van der Straeten case and the discovery of a body lead to shocked reactions in Geleen: “Even if you don’t have children yourself, this goes through the marrow and bone.”
Suspect Donny M. was arrested in the night from Friday to Saturday in the Landgraaf district, a relatively young part of the Lindenheuvel district. The police later found a body at the house where M. was arrested. It has not yet been confirmed whether it is indeed Gino.
Also read: Quest Gino: body found in Geleen
Goosebumps
Local residents have often already drawn that conclusion. “We have been following this story for a number of days. As long as it goes well, you keep thinking. And then you live in the area, and then you think what is this. Goosebumps all over my body.”
“It would be your own child. My child is also nine,” says a mother. “Why? Such a nine-year-old boy, just playing. And then probably found dead in Geleen. It comes so close.”