Girl, 12, found dead in car; Assen police suspect murder

A 12-year-old girl from Hoogeveen was found dead in a car in Assen on Saturday night. The police suspect she was killed in a crime. A 46-year-old man from Hoogeveen - the driver of the car - was arrested, the police said in a statement.

The 46-year-old man showed up at a police station on Balkengracht in Assen on Saturday night. He asked police officers to come to his car with him. In the car, they found the body of the girl.

The police did not say anything about how the girl died, but did say that investigation must show what circumstances led to the "violent incident". The man was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the child's death.

RTV Drenthe reported that the suspect is the girl's stepfather. A police spokesperson would only tell AD that the man knows the girl's mother, and through her also knows the child.