Found Deceased Netherlands - Corrie van der Valk, 58, found deceased after 17 years

[JanetElaine]

Corrie van der Valk, member of the well known Dutch hotel and restaurant family Van der Valk, has been located deceased in an anonymous grave in Belgium. Corrie (then 58) had been missing since January 7th, 2001 from her home in Nederasselt, Netherlands, and was declared dead by Dutch authorities in 2008.

The identification of Mrs Van der Valk came after the Missing Persons department of Belgian national law enforcement started a campaign to exhume all bodies of unidentified persons in order to extract DNA for identification.

A spokesperson for the Belgian department said Van der Valk died in a train accident in 2001 and was buried in an anonymous grave because she was not recognizable.

It was long thought by family members and friends that Corrie had left to start a new life for herself elsewhere. She had previously left home for extended periods of time, without contacting anyone. Even though she was last seen on January 7th, 2001, she was not reported missing until January 27th of that year. Police for a while suspected Corrie's husband Nico van der Valk of being involved in her disappearance, but officially cleared him in 2003.

The Van der Valk family is expected to release an official statement today, 16 November 2018.

Justitie: Corrie van der Valk kwam om door treinongeluk

Corrie van der Valk declared dead

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[JanetElaine]

I thought it was interesting how Belgium decided to start an ID campaign for all their Does. I tried to find more information about it but was unsuccessful. Glad that it's paying off though and giving some families some answers about their missing loved ones.

 

[JanetElaine]

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Corrie van der Valk died on the day she was last seen, January 7th, 2001, according to Belgian police. Van der Valk was walking along railroad tracks near Namen, Belgium, at dusk when she was hit and killed by a passing train. Police in 2001 did not determine whether this was an accident or suicide. Van der Valk did not carry ID on her and her remains remained unidentified in a pauper's grave in Bois-De-Villers until recently.

An investigation into more facts of the case and why a DNA match was not found back in 2001 is ongoing. It is possible that hairs taken from the deceased were never analysed.

 

[anijs6]

Podcast promoted by the Belgian Federal Police about the case of Corrie, with testimonies:

Listen here. The podcast is only available in French.