Police fear for lives of missing children from Beerta after father’s letter found

Police fear for the lives of missing Jeffrey (10) and Emma (8) after discovering a letter written by their father that suggests he may intend to kill himself and the children. The police believe the father, Klaas Bijl (67), abducted the children in a gray Toyota Avensis with the license plate 77-NLV-4.

The letter from the father prompted police to state that “there is reason to believe the children are in mortal danger.” The exact contents of the letter have not been disclosed. Jeffrey and Emma were last seen around 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Beerta, Groningen. Their father's gray Toyota was later spotted near the A7 highway in Winschoten.

The family of the missing siblings say they are deeply concerned for the children’s well-being but are holding on to hope. In a statement released through the advocacy group Namens de Familie (“On Behalf of the Family”), the family described the past few days as “incredibly tense and emotional.”

“They are drawing strength from the many kind messages they’ve received and are deeply grateful to everyone helping search for Jeffrey and Emma,” the statement said. “We kindly ask everyone to be cautious in approaching friends and family members,” the message added.

Jeffrey is reported to be about 1.50 meters tall. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a yellow shirt and black shorts, both from the brand Sports, along with gray hiking shoes. Emma is about 1.30 meters tall. While her full clothing description is unknown, police said she was wearing purple athletic shoes.

Following multiple tips, police launched a search operation Sunday evening in the Carel Coenraadpolder near Finsterwolde. This afternoon, tire tracks leading toward the water were discovered, prompting authorities to cordon off the area.

The search resumed Monday morning after an overnight pause. The Veteranen Search Team (VST) is assisting police in the operation. “At 3 a.m., the search was halted but resumed at 9 a.m.,” police said. “We are now searching a much larger area, divided into smaller groups at the request of the police.”

Oldambt Mayor Sikkema, whose municipality includes Beerta, said: “This is deeply felt in the village, both among children and parents. It is a small village where everyone knows each other and there is a strong sense of community. This is a shock for everyone, and we are all hoping for the best.”