Friend suspected in teen girl's death
Romy Nieuwburg knew the boy the police suspect of involvement in her death. The two 14-year-olds met each other through friends about two years ago, AD reports. The boy, who was arrested on Monday, lives on a farm in Lunteren, according to the newspaper.
Romy lived in Hoevelaken. Her body was found in a watery ditch in Achterveld on Friday. The circumstances surrounding her death are unclear, though the police are sure she was killed in a crime.
The suspected boy is friends with another teen who has known Romy for some time. They made videos together and shared them on YouTube, according to AD. The suspect is also friends with a boy who attends the same school as Romy.
On Monday night a memorial service held for Romy in her home town. It was broadcast live on Facebook.
Herdenking van omgebrachte Romy (14) in Hoevelaken.
Posted by RTL Nieuws on Monday, June 5, 2017
Savannah Dekker - the other 14-year-old found killed in the Netherlands this weekend - also knew the boy the police arrested in connection with her death. She met the 16-year-old on social media, Bunschoten mayor Melis van de Groep said on Monday. When Savannah went missing on Thursday last week, there was hope that she was still alive, according to the mayor. Friends and family had indications that she was hiding somewhere with the boy.
This turned out not to be the case. Savannah was found killed in a ditch on an industrial terrain in Bunschoten on Sunday - some 15 kilometers away from where Romy was found. She too was killed in a crime.
Despite the many similarities and the proximity in the two girls' deaths, the police believe the two cases are unrelated. Mayor Van de Groep called this a comfort. "That there's no one randomly pulling girls from their bicycles." he said.
Nevertheless, many schools in the area are advising kids not to be on the streets alone - cycle home in groups.