After the discovery of Annie De Poortere’s body: husband arrested on suspicion of murder in 30-year-old cold case (Sint-Martens-Latem)

The husband of Annie De Poortere, the 48-year-old woman from Sint-Martens-Latem who disappeared without a trace in 1994, has been arrested on suspicion of murder. This is reported by the East Flanders public prosecutor’s office.

On Saturday, the remains of a body were found during excavation work behind the garage of a family home in Sint-Martens-Latem. “Based on several strong indications,” the public prosecutor’s office assumes that the remains belong to Annie De Poortere. The then 48-year-old woman lived in the house next door, but disappeared without a trace in 1994. “Further scientific research by experts will take place to confirm this identification,” it said.

Then-husband arrested

After the discovery of the body, an investigating judge was ordered to investigate the circumstances of the death. “This investigation has now led to the arrest of a 78-year-old man, the then partner of the victim,” the public prosecutor’s office said. “After thorough interrogation by the police services, the investigating judge decided to bring the man to trial and subsequently arrest him under electronic surveillance for acts that are provisionally qualified as murder.”

Annie Depoortere’s husband was the last to see her. “It must have been around 2 p.m.,” he said in 1999 in the investigation program Oproep 2020. The man told how he then went shopping and then left for a football match. “When I got home it was dark. She was gone. Some clothes that had been on the couch were gone,” it said at the time. According to the public prosecutor’s office, “further investigation will now have to reveal what his actual role was in the death of the victim.”

The man, who now lives in Waasland, will have to appear before the council chamber within five days, which will decide on his further arrest.