Man who fatally stabbed woman in Den Dolder previously attacked others
Mert P., the 27-year-old man suspected of fatally stabbing a 76-year-old woman in Den Dolder last week, has a history of violent behavior. Originally from Heerhugowaard, P. was previously accused of assaulting random individuals in unprovoked attacks, AD reports.
In 2022, P. punched and struck multiple passersby in the face on the streets of Heerhugowaard. According to psychiatrists who evaluated him in 2023, P. harbored “revenge fantasies” and believed that “violence is sometimes justified.”
The fatal stabbing took place as the victim was walking home from a supermarket. She was attacked without warning and succumbed to her injuries on the street. Hours later, Mert P. was apprehended near the scene at Wier+, a secured psychiatric facility in Den Dolder for individuals with intellectual disabilities and psychiatric disorders.
A spokesperson for the care facility stated that P. had not been “unauthorizedly outside” but was on leave when the incident occurred. P. was undergoing mandatory treatment under a court-issued care order due to being deemed a danger to himself and others.
P. first encountered the justice system in October 2019 at age 22 when he was arrested for stealing chicken breast and energy drinks from a supermarket in Heerhugowaard. Within a week, he was caught stealing alcohol twice. The court issued him a warning but advised he would face charges if he reoffended within a year.
In 2020, P. was arrested for vandalizing a car, breaking into it, and stealing a navigation system and 24.60 euros. Though he denied the crime, stolen items found in his possession provided evidence against him.
P. was fined 225 euros and given a 25-hour community service sentence. During that period, those familiar with him described him as “confused,” “disconnected from reality,” and significantly less mature than his age suggested. Court proceedings revealed that P. had autism and an IQ below 60, classifying him as having a mild intellectual disability.
Psychiatric evaluations
In early 2023, P. resumed violent behavior, randomly assaulting people on the streets of Heerhugowaard. Despite these attacks, the public prosecutor initially allowed him to return to his care facility in Noord-Holland while awaiting trial. After continued incidents, he was arrested in February 2023.
Psychiatric evaluations indicated that P. suffered from a combination of autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, social anxiety, and affective psychosis. His condition made him unable to fully understand the consequences of his actions.
In March 2023, legal proceedings against P. were suspended, and his case was formally dropped in 2024. Instead of a prison sentence, the court mandated his placement in Wier+, the secured psychiatric facility in Den Dolder. This decision was deemed a more suitable solution given his complex psychiatric issues.
Psychiatrists overseeing his treatment reported that P. held strong beliefs in the justification of violence and struggled with revenge fantasies. Though he made minor progress, professionals noted that significant work was still needed to achieve permanent behavioral changes.
In April 2024, the court in Utrecht extended P.’s care order based on recommendations from his psychiatrists. They opposed P.’s request to return to live with his mother in Heerhugowaard, citing a high risk of recurrence of violent behavior. The court agreed and mandated his continued treatment in Den Dolder.
Despite this, P. is now suspected of fatally stabbing the elderly woman while still under court-ordered supervision. He remains within the probationary period linked to the decision not to prosecute him for earlier assaults on random passersby.
The fatal stabbing has deeply shaken Den Dolder, a village already grappling with concerns over its psychiatric facilities. Residents have expressed frustration and are calling for the relocation of the clinics.
