Sister responds after arrest of then husband Annie De Poortere: “I want to know what his exact share is” (Sint-Martens-Latem)

The husband of Annie De Poortere, the 48-year-old woman from Sint-Martens-Latem who disappeared without a trace in 1994, has been arrested on suspicion of murder. “I am excited that answers will finally come,” the woman’s sister responds. “Now I want to know what his exact role is in the disappearance and death of my sister.”

Last Saturday, the remains of a body were found during excavation work behind the garage of a family home in Sint-Martens-Latem. Based on “several strong indications”, the East Flanders public prosecutor’s office now assumes that these are the remains of Annie De Poortere. The then 48-year-old woman lived in the house next door, but disappeared without a trace in 1994. “Further scientific research by experts will take place to confirm this identification,” it said.

After the discovery of the body, an investigating judge was ordered to investigate the circumstances of the death. “This investigation has now led to the arrest of a 78-year-old man, the then partner of the victim,” the public prosecutor’s office said. “After thorough interrogation by the police services, the investigating judge decided to bring the man to trial and subsequently arrest him under electronic surveillance for acts that are provisionally qualified as murder.”

Sister: “I want to know what his exact role in my sister’s death is”

Karina De Poortere, Annie’s sister, has not yet been contacted by the police or justice, but is surprised at the arrest of her former brother-in-law. On Sunday she already had mixed feelings when the news broke that her sister had possibly been found: she was sad because she is now certain that her older sister has died, but above all she had many questions about the investigation.

“I am happy because things are finally moving forward,” she now said in response to the arrest of her then brother-in-law. “I am excited that answers will finally come. Why wasn’t this possible 30 years ago? But now I want to know what exact role Hans D. played in the disappearance and death of my sister.”

Hans D.: “She was gone”

Annie Depoortere’s husband was the last to see her at the time. “It must have been around 2 p.m.,” Hans D. said in 1999 in the investigation program Oproep 2020. The man told how he then went shopping and then left for a football match. “When I got home it was dark. She was gone. Some clothes that had been on the couch were gone,” it said at the time.

According to the public prosecutor’s office, “further investigation will now have to reveal what his actual role was in the death of the victim.” The man, who currently lives in Waasland, will have to appear before the council chamber within five days, which will decide on his further arrest.