Dentergem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A man aged 90 killed his wife in 2021 before he stabbed 3 other residents at a residential care centre in Dentergem last night. Former staff members of our newsroom obtained related information, which the public prosecutor’s office later confirmed.
A 90-year-old man using a knife fatally wounded two friends and injured another resident severely during an attack at Mariaburcht residential care centre in Dentergem late last night. The serial killer had killed his wife in 2021 while having a comprehensive record with the authorities. People wonder whether the care facility is suitable for him because of his background in violence and existing mental health issues.
The early morning attack killed both male victims, who were 97 and 93 years old, and left a 94-year-old woman in critical condition. The 90-year-old care facility resident had resided there since 2021 after killing his wife with a hammer during a marital dispute. The court declared him unfit for trial due to early dementia, thus resulting in his placement in a detention facility. Authorities have not disclosed whether the patient entered the centre because of any special treatment protocol or because he was awaiting placement at another institution. Justice journalist Philip Heymans suggested in his report that the perpetrator might have resided in the residential care centre while he waited to move to a specialised facility. This long-standing issue exists because our nation lacks sufficient facilities to house its detainee population.
What is the background of the Dentergem care center incident?
The 90-year-old suspect responsible for the Dentergem Care Centre stabbing displayed multiple violent criminal offences throughout his life. The suspect killed his 87-year-old wife in 2021 using a hammer during a battle at their Oostrozebeke residence. Due to a diagnosis of early dementia, doctors refused to try him in court, instead placing him under institutional care.
The suspect spent late 2021 as a Mariaburcht Dentergem residential care resident, although the centre had no specialised accommodations for dementia or mental health patients. People question why he stayed at this facility since Belgium lacks enough specialised treatment facilities for individuals with similar health profiles.
