Elon Musk sparks international attention with post about death of Dutch teen Tamar
Elon Musk has attracted international attention after commenting on X about the case of a 14-year-old girl, Tamar, from Marken. Musk reacted to a post by a Dutch user on X, who shared the case of Tamar and compared it to a prominent case in the United Kingdom. In that British case, there was controversy over whether authorities had withheld details about suspects’ backgrounds.
Musk reposted the message on X, adding the comment: “Suicidal empathy becoming homicidal empathy.” Following his reaction, the post quickly went viral, accumulating over 13 million views in a short time.
In the early hours of 25 July 2020, just after 3:00 a.m., Tamar left her parents’ home in Marken after a disagreement over when she should go to bed. Tamar was found dead in the early morning hours in the roadside verge along the Zeedijk between Monnickendam and Marken. She had been fatally struck by a vehicle.
Investigators eventually identified the vehicle, a grey Mazda 3, and the people inside it. The then 27-year-old driver told police he had been distracted by his phone and believed he had hit either a road sign or an animal. He maintained that he was unaware that a person had been struck.
Initially, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) determined that there was not enough evidence to pursue a criminal charge of negligent homicide. The suspect therefore avoided prosecution over Tamar’s death, although he was fined 1,500 euros in 2021 for dangerous driving and texting while driving. The decision sparked widespread frustration and incomprehension among Tamar’s family.
Experts commissioned by Tamar’s family found indications that the place where her body was discovered may not have been the actual crash site. Their analysis suggested there is a credible possibility that she was moved after the collision. In response, the OM assigned a new investigative team to review these theories, with its findings expected to be revealed during the upcoming court proceedings.
Claims circulating online, including in the post amplified by Elon Musk, allege that police initially told Tamar’s mother the suspected driver was German to prevent a potential “Wilders effect,” a reference to anti-immigration sentiment associated with Geert Wilders.
The suspect was later identified as an Iraqi national who lived in Germany. The allegation has become a focal point in wider debates over asylum policy, transparency by authorities, and the handling of high-profile criminal cases. The OM has since decided to prosecute the now 33-year-old man. The trial is set to begin on 30 June.
Represented by lawyer Sébas Diekstra, Tamar’s family has reacted to the unexpected international attention triggered by the tech billionaire’s post. The relatives say the case is now resonating globally and that Tamar’s story is moving many people.
The family has partially distanced itself from political discussions and comparisons with cases abroad, stressing that their focus remains on finding answers and achieving justice.
