Family found dead after Papendrecht fire; crime suspected

The bodies of two children, a man and a woman were found after a fire in a home in Papendrecht on Saturday morning. Traces of violence were found on the bodies. "They may not have died in the fire", the Public Prosecutor said in a press conference in Papendrecht on Saturday afternoon, NU.nl reports.

The house fire was reported to emergency services at around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. Firefighters found the bodies after breaking down the door. Attempts to resuscitate them were to no avail.

The authorities are considering several scenarios. "The most likely is that something happened within the family", the Public Prosecutor said. The investigation is still ongoing.

The family was known to the police and care institutions since the summer of last year, after multiple incidents involving nuisance and domestic quarrels. The children were four and six years old, the man and woman both 32. The house is located on Cremerstraat in the Westeind district of Papendrecht.

Mayor Aart-Jan Moerkerke said that there are still many questions to be answered, but that will have to wait for the investigation. According to the mayor, this incident badly affected the neighborhood. Local residents witnessed a lot of the drama. Victim Support was called in for them.

Local residents left flowers and stuffed toys outside the home to commemorate the victims.

https://twitter.com/PIvandenBerg/status/1043835045314744322

Bloemen, kaarten en kaarsjes in de Cremerstraat in Papendrecht. Bij familiedrama kwamen gisteren twee kinderen en hun ouders om het leven @RTV_Rijnmond pic.twitter.com/q52J4OpLgo

— Marlies RTV Rijnmond (@HartingMarlies) September 23, 2018

UPDATE: Sterk vermoeden op familiedrama woningbrand Cremerstraat Papendrecht: https://t.co/9esP29ro3r pic.twitter.com/erM0VL32Y5

— MediaTV (@mediatvnl) September 22, 2018

Persconferentie in gemeentehuis Papendrecht over dodelijke brand Cremerstraat - https://t.co/Wf52pqa54E pic.twitter.com/Q2eGHI7Vzx

— KlaroenNL (@KlaroenNL) September 22, 2018

https://twitter.com/PIvandenBerg/status/1043467970285129728

Cremerstraat, Papendrecht: Bij de brand zijn meerdere slachtoffers overleden. De brand is door de brandweer geblust. Oorzaak van de brand is nog niet bekend. pic.twitter.com/VZtArDu31N

— MediaTV (@mediatvnl) September 22, 2018