“The annual tribute to their daughter, Chantal de Vries, has become a poignant tradition for Bert and Herriët de Vries. It’s now been five years since the young woman was tragically stabbed to death in the heart of Hengelo by a care facility patient, Wim V. On Christmas Eve, a day that should have been filled with joy, her parents laid flowers at the spot where her life was cruelly taken. However, their grief was compounded when the tokens of remembrance vanished a few days later, spirited away by a neighbor.”
“Chantal’s parents, like many others in the close-knit community, were left utterly shocked and dismayed by the disappearance of the flowers. The foul act was an unwelcome reminder of the heart-wrenching events that had unfolded five years ago, hitting Bert and Herriët de Vries’ raw emotions all over again.”
“The ‘Kerstmoord,’ as it became known, was an unsettling crime that sent shockwaves through Hengelo. The senseless death of Chantal de Vries served as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of violence. Now, every Christmas, her parents honor her memory through this intimate act, a simple gesture that has been abruptly, and cruelly, violated.”
