Three months later, an employee of the water board made a grisly discovery in the Steenwijker Aa near Eesveen. Heavily decomposed, sawed-off human limbs float in a polyester bag. Research later shows that it concerns Halil’s arms, upper legs and lower legs. This puts an end to all the uncertainty of family and friends: Halil has been killed.
Almost three years after the disappearance, another gruesome discovery is made. This time at a walking path on the Kiersche Wijde near Wanneperveen. Scattered along the path are human skeletal remains: a number of ribs, vertebrae and a pelvis. DNA tests provide clarity. These are remains of Halil Erol. Because of all these ‘puzzle pieces’ of evidence, the case has become popularly known as the ‘puzzle murder’.
A duvet cover is also found among the bones. The piece of evidence; because the DNA of former TBS patient Matthias M. was found on this sheet. He becomes the main suspect.
Matthias M. from Meppel is sentenced by the court to 10 years in prison and TBS. Last year the court reduced this sentence quite a bit, to 9.5 years in prison and TBS. Matthias M. has always said he was innocent. That is why, after the court’s ruling last December, he appealed to the Supreme Court.