A YOUNG Dutch mother has been arrested on suspicion of killing four of her babies and hiding their remains in suitcases in an attic.
Police said they searched the 25-year-old woman’s home in the village of Nij Beets and found four suitcases, each containing the remains of a baby.
Police chief Wim van Essen said an investigation was started after it was reported to police that the woman had no children despite the fact that she had been pregnant several times between 2002 and 2010.
The woman first told detectives she had given her children up for adoption but could not show the documents to prove it.
She then told them she was “keeping them” in separate suitcases in the attic, which led to the search of the house she lived at with her parents.
Prosecuting official Annette Bronsvoort said initial investigations showed that three of the suitcases contained the remains of babies.
In a statement issued about two hours after the press conference, the prosecuting authority said the fourth suitcase was also found to contain a baby’s remains.
Further investigations “will have to determine the cause of death and also answer the question whether the babies were dead at birth”, she said.
The woman was brought before a judge, who ordered that she be held in custody for 14 days pending further investigation.
Her parents, who claim they were unaware of their daughter’s pregnancies, were not considered suspects in the case, Mr Van Essen said.
Mayor Francisca Ravestein said the community was “very shocked” by the events, adding: “There are so many questions.”
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