Mental health patient admits strangling 75-year-old woman; also accused of raping victim

Elias M. has confessed to strangling a 75-year-old woman called Yvonne in the forest ’t Wasven in the woman’s living area of Halsteren. The 32-year-old suspect was a client at the local mental health institution Westerlijk Noord-Brabant. He explained during the court hearing in Breda that he heard voices in his head during the incident on October 10, 2023.

The victim was walking in the forest when M. suddenly attacked her. He claimed that he was there because he was hoping that he would not see another person there: “I thought that people wanted to harm me because God said that to me. I realized that a devil was coming into my body.” He explained that he also thought the victim was going to harm him.

Yvonne’s body was found under a heap of leaves. The suspect’s semen was also found during a DNA investigation. He said in court that he does not remember how this happened. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) also suspects M. of raping the victim.

“I am completely devastated and distraught from this,” said the suspect. He said that he still struggles with voices in his head. Specialists think that M. cannot be held fully accountable. They did not determine that he was completely psychotic.

According to the OM, nobody in the mental health institution noticed any signs of psychosis. M.’s lawyer wants the specialists to question his client again, considering the new statements made by the suspect.

The court decided to postpone the case so that it can give a "fair and balanced judgment.” It is still unclear when the hearing will be.