Horse-biting death to be re-examined; made headlines in 1997

The police are reopening the investigation into the death of 25 year old Larissa Dumont from Nieuwveen on May 27th, 1997, after reports in De Telegraaf last year. The initial investigation by the police concluded that Dumont was killed by a bite from her horse.

Last year De Telegraaf managed to get the pictures of Dumont's body, the scene of her death and her horse. According to the newspaper "those shocking images shed a different light on the matter". Her body was severely battered, she seemed to have been torn apart by a wild animal and her neck was cut so deeply that her head was almost separated from her body. Based on the opinion of several experts, the newspaper concluded that Dumont had been murdered.

Veterinary experts told the newspaper that a horse could not inflict such wounds. The horse had also been found wearing a bridle and bit so it could not open its mouth very far. Witnesses stated that Dumont's horse was a tame and well trained horse that would never have attacked its rider.

Forensic experts believe that Dumont's neck had been cut. The experts ruled out that she could have been killed by a fall from her horse and then being dragged behind it. According to pathologist Danny Spendlove, deep cuts in one of her hands indicate that she defended herself against her killer.

According to the newspaper, there are indications that Dumont's boyfriend at the time was involved in her murder. Dumont had inherited both her parents' wealth after their deaths. A close friend of the victim stated that she had been about to end the relationship. The boyfriend inherited half of Dumont's estate.

The police emphasized that they have no reason to believe that Dumont had been murdered. The only reason they are reopening the case is to clarify what exactly happened to her in the interest of her family. Dumont's body has been exhumed and is being investigated by the Netherlands Forensic Institute.