Man, 75, Arrested for Murder in Belgian Luxury Villa
A 75-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his 69-year-old girlfriend, whose body was discovered in their luxury villa in Maasmechelen, Belgium, nearly a month ago. The Limburg prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrest on Friday, stating that the suspect was brought before an investigating judge who ordered his detention on suspicion of murder, according to VRT NWS.
The Discovery
The victim, identified as Maria “Freek” Boel, was found dead in her bed on the morning of July 20 at the couple’s residence along the Oude Baan in Maasmechelen. Her partner had called emergency services early that morning after noticing she felt cold, had blue lips, and showed no heartbeat. The local police zone Lanaken-Maasmechelen immediately initiated the protocol for unusual deaths, and the prosecutor’s office dispatched the federal police judicial lab and a forensic doctor to the scene.
As VRT NWS reported at the time, initial findings revealed suspicious elements. “We do not comment on the precise nature of those elements because they are part of the ongoing investigation,” said Marijke Teunis, spokesperson for the Limburg prosecutor’s office. The victim’s partner was taken in for questioning but was released at that time.
Investigation Leads to Arrest
Following the initial discovery, an autopsy and toxicological examination were conducted on the victim’s body. Based on findings from those examinations, the 75-year-old suspect was arrested on August 14 and brought before the investigating judge in Tongeren, who ordered his detention on suspicion of murder. He has been transferred to the prison in Hasselt.
TVL reported that the suspect, identified as Ton G., had initially claimed that his girlfriend was depressed and had taken a significant amount of sleeping pills. The investigation into the precise circumstances of the death remains ongoing.
Background on the Suspect and Victim
According to De Nieuwe Ster Maastricht, Ton G. is originally from Maastricht, Netherlands, but has lived in Maasmechelen for a long time. He is a prominent member of the carnival group “De Clochards,” which has been a fixture of Maastricht carnival for 44 years. He made his fortune as an entrepreneur importing textiles from the Far East. He was arrested just one day before his 76th birthday.
The victim, Maria Boel, was also known as “Riet” and was deeply involved in local politics in the municipality of Beek in the Netherlands. She was an active member of the Burger Belangen Beek – Nieuwe Democraten Beek (BBB-NDB) party, served as a council member, and was on the candidate list for the 2022 municipal elections. In a statement, the Beek Lokaal political party remembered her as “a committed, loyal and warm person, with a great heart for our community.”
The Luxury Villa
The couple’s residence, named “Manoir des Lions,” had been on the market for approximately three years with an asking price of €1,995,000. The property spans 5,246 square meters of land with 1,184 square meters of living space, featuring seven fireplaces, an outdoor swimming pool, and a 413-square-meter wellness area with a heated indoor pool, fitness center, sauna, and bar. The villa is located next to the Hoge Kempen National Park.
The couple had attended the closing concert of André Rieu on July 19, the day before the victim was found dead.
What’s Next
The judicial investigation into the precise circumstances of the death continues. The suspect remains in custody at the prison in Hasselt as authorities work to establish the full sequence of events leading to the victim’s death. The case has drawn significant attention in both Belgium and the Netherlands, given the prominent backgrounds of both the suspect and the victim in their respective communities.