Couple missing in Tenerife: “Marc is surely dead somewhere in the water” says a friend of Laura, found mutilated

Belgian justice now wants to participate in the investigation led by the Spanish authorities, while the body of the retiree's husband is still actively sought on the island. Since April 22 2024, Marc, 71 years old, and Laura, 66 years old, a Belgian couple living on the island of Tenerife, disappeared. Only the woman's dismembered body was found.

The investigation carried out in Tenerife to understand what happened to a couple of Belgian retirees, who had not been heard from since April 22, is it in the process of being resolved ;direct towards one of their tenants, after the discovery of the dismembered body of Laura, amputated of both legs and one hand, with a plastic bag over her head?

The Belgian federal prosecutor's office takes up the case

This is what several Belgian media are suggesting this Saturday morning, which are following the progress of this affair very closely, in which Brussels will now officially take an interest: according to RTL Info, the Belgian federal prosecutor's office now joins the investigation carried out on site.

"From the moment it appeared that it was indeed a homicide, of ;a potentially violent death in any case, the case is taken over by the federal prosecutor's office with all the means at its disposal" a spokesperson told our colleagues. "It’is an advantage for families because they have the certainty that’ ;there is a Belgian judicial eye, which will assist in this investigation. For families, it's rather reassuring.

Disappeared after leaving for their yoga class

On site, investigations are continuing to understand what could have happened to this very well-integrated retired couple : Laura Trappeniers (66 years old) and her husband Marc Olbrechts (71 years old) who disappeared after going to their yoga class, have lived on the island since 2009, where they are said to own two villas: the one in which they live, and another, which serves as a painting studio for Marc, and which they sometimes rent out, according to RTL.

Laura was worried about her tenant

This second building is now also sealed. Still according to RTL, on the day of the disappearance, a Belgian man, probably from eastern countries, took possession of the premises. Laura reportedly told one of her friends that she was worried and that she hoped she would not find the house empty. That’s the last time she gave any sign of life.

As for the famous tenant, he was not seen by any neighbors. According to HLN, the police are investigating in particular the images from the cameras of the island's catering establishments.

The couple's car has not been found

The authorities have still not found the couple's dark blue Opel Mokka, which is surprising to the population. "We're on an island here. How is it that this car has not yet been found ?", asks Tessa Rens, a journalist from VTM News present on site.

In the meantime, Laura and Marc's loved ones are not reassured. "I haven't slept for nights because of that. We wake up with it and we fall asleep with it, confides a woman, a friend of the couple. "We are sure that Marc is probably dead somewhere in the water. They must have both been murdered", estimates another of their relatives.

Police are also examining the couple's bank details and life insurance policies to see if any unusual activity has taken place.