The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has decided to prosecute a total of four individuals for grave desecration at the Amersfoort cemetery Rusthof after additional investigation. The individuals allegedly held a paranormal session there in September 2021. According to the OM, there is grave desecration, and the suspects will have to answer to the court for this.
In 2023, it was already announced that a then 46-year-old woman from Nieuwkoop is being prosecuted, and now three additional individuals have been added. These are three women aged 36, 41, and 79, from Rotterdam, Waalwijk, and Hoevelaken, respectively.
Identity of participants known
Previously, it was not possible to determine the identity of these participants in the paranormal session. This was partly due to the fact that grave desecration falls under a category of crimes for which only limited investigative resources may be used. For example, the police were not allowed to enter and search homes during this investigation.
We now know, through additional investigation, the identity of all individuals who were present during the paranormal session. Four of them have, according to the OM, played an active role and are being prosecuted for this. For two other attendees, it has not been established that they engaged in any actions. In the view of the OM, their mere presence is insufficient to speak of grave desecration. These cases have therefore been dismissed.
Additional investigation
The additional investigation mainly consisted of seizing, cracking, and examining the phone of the first suspect. This phone could not be seized earlier due to limited legal possibilities. Ultimately, with the intervention of the examining magistrate, it was still possible to seize the phone. This occurred during the inspection of the cemetery on March 4, 2024.
The Public Prosecution Service has informed the involved parties about the decision to summon three additional suspects. It is now up to the defense to submit any research requests. No court date has yet been scheduled.