Suspect in killing of 17-year-old Lisa ordered to remain in custody for at least 2 weeks

A 22-year-old man suspected of killing 17-year-old Lisa from Abcoude and of committing multiple sexual assaults in Amsterdam will remain in custody for at least two more weeks, a Dutch examining magistrate ruled Monday in an initial detention hearing, NOS reports.

The suspect, who was staying at a Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) location in Amsterdam but was allegedly not officially registered there, was first arrested on Thursday evening in connection with a sexual assault on the Weesperzijde in Amsterdam on August 15. A woman was assaulted and sexually abused that night.

On Friday, authorities announced that the same man is also believed to be responsible for the violent death of Lisa, who was found dead a day earlier in Duivendrecht. Lisa was discovered in the early hours of Wednesday on the Holterbergweg in Duivendrecht.

During a press conference Friday evening, Amsterdam’s security triangle — composed of the mayor, police, and the public prosecutor’s office — revealed that the man is also linked to a third case of sexual violence in Amsterdam. That incident took place on August 10 and involved an attempted assault. Prosecutors said no formal charges have been filed yet in that case. Police initially stated the suspect faces charges of murder and rape.

The killing of Lisa has sparked outrage across the Netherlands and led to the national campaign “We reclaim the night”, which has raised more than 420,000 euros so far.

The OM emphasized that the man’s country of origin is not relevant to the case. “That is not relevant for the criminal proceedings, nor whether he is in the country legally or not. The facts are no less serious because of that,” the spokesperson said.