School shocked by student's arrest for teen girl's death

The J.H. Donner School in De Glind is stunned that 14-year-old student Romy Nieuwburg knew the boy suspected of killing her from school. "Again one of us then", school director Jan Hofman said in a statement on the school's Facebook page. 

"We have many questions", Hofman said. "Also many new questions." The suspect is a 14-year-old boy. "We know that we may never get an answer to all questions. But we do know that we must walk the road ahead of us together. We do that with eye, ear and heart focused on each other. We hope that we as school - board, directors, staff, students and parents - will be given the opportunity to process the events of the past few days. In all peace needed. We realize that many people empathize with us, especially with Romy's relatives, and pray for us. That gives us confidence in the future."

The J.H. Donner School is a school for kids with behavioral problems and who need extra emotional support. The entire town of De Glind is focused on youth care. Many of its about 650 residents are kids living in group homes or foster families. The youth care in the town is supervised by the Rudolph Foundation. 

Romy's body was found in a watery ditch in Achterveld, Utrecht on Friday afternoon. She was cycling home to Hoevelaken from school when she was attacked and killed. On Wednesday the Public Prosecutor announced that Romy was sexually assaulted before she was killed. 

The suspected boy will be arraigned on Thursday.