Police identify bodies of missing children, kidnapper father; Donations collected

Investigators identified the bodies of Emma and Jeffrey, two children missing since Saturday, after there remains were found in a submerged car near Winschoten, police confirmed to the family Wednesday morning. The body of the children’s father, who had abducted his children on Saturday, was also found in his car. A resident from the children's home village of Finsterwolde launched a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe to collect money for their funeral.

The family is said to be “shocked, angry, and deeply sad,” according to a statement from Namens de Familie released on behalf of surviving family members. They are asking for privacy to help them process the events. “Not a single word comes close to what we are feeling. We cannot believe it, and we actually don’t want to believe it,” the family said. They thanked everyone who had attempted to find the children.

An Amber Alert had been issued on Sunday after the disappearance of Jeffrey (10) and Emma (8) a day earlier. Photos and the name of the father were also shared. This came after police found evidence that the man, a 67-year-old resident of Beerta, was threatening to take his children’s lives as well as his own.

The father had taken his children on Saturday afternoon. The car he had taken them in was last seen at 3:45 p.m. An extensive search followed the Amber Alert in which police, the Veteranen Search Team, and hundreds of volunteers tried to find the children.

It was reported on Tuesday by the AD that the father's friends in Germany had taken his car keys away from him because they were concerned he was going to do something he would regret. However, the father drove away from the area using his spare set without their knowledge. He also told a different friend of his that he was going to "take his children to paradise."

People have laid flowers and teddy bears by the spot where the car was found, an ANP reporter stated. The car, a Toyota Avensis, was found in the water at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday. It was taken out of the water with the help of a crane. It was quickly reported that bodies had been found inside the car, with confirmation now coming that the bodies belong to the missing children and their father.

The mayors of Oldambt and Eemsdelta in Groningen, which includes Finsterwolde, spoke of their sadness upon hearing the news. "The bleakest scenario has sadly become a reality. This is a dramatic outcome for the family, friends, but also classmates and former classmates and friends. And also for everyone who had gotten involved in the situation " said Mayor Cora-Yfke Sikkema of Oldambt.

"This is an immensely sad end to days of uncertainty that has deeply affected us. Our thoughts are first and foremost with Jeffrey and Emma's mother and the immediate family. We feel this sadness in our society," said the Mayor of Eeemsdelta, Ben Visser.

The crowdfunding campaign launched for the children's funeral quickly collected over 6,000 euros, with a goal of 14,000 euros. The project was started "with the family's permission, to help them give the two sweet children a dignified farewell," wrote the woman who organized the donation drive.

"All donations will go towards the funeral for Jeffrey and Emma," she said. "Thank you in advance for your support, also on behalf of Jeffrey and Emma's family."