The investigation into the disappearance and presumed murder of Marijke Francis, a 26-year-classic woman who vanished in Gingelom, Belgium, in June 2011, has been officially closed by a court in Hasselt, according to reports from VRT and Nieuwsblad on February 13, 2026.
Francis was last seen leaving her workplace in Gingelom on June 29, 2011, intending to visit her sister in Berloz by moped. Her moped was later recovered, but Francis herself has never been found. The case quickly drew attention, with initial investigations focusing on her boyfriend, Didier C., and a neighbor, Kevin D.
According to VRT, a neighbor initially told investigators that he witnessed Didier C. Striking Francis in the head with her moped helmet during an argument, allegedly resulting in her death. The neighbor claimed her body was then disposed of in an unknown location. Extensive searches, including excavations and the draining of a water reservoir, failed to locate Francis’s remains. Didier C. Died in a motorcycle accident in 2013 while already in custody regarding her disappearance. Another suspect, Tom C., has also since died, leading to the cessation of prosecution in his case.
Despite the initial claims, prosecutors ultimately determined there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges against Kevin D. And his girlfriend, who were also considered suspects. The case involved individuals connected to the drug trade in the Zuid-Limburg region, according to VRT, but no definitive link to Francis’s disappearance was established.
Bert Parthoens, the lawyer representing the Francis family, stated to VRT, “We had expected the decision, but it remains a sad day.” The family continues to seek answers regarding Francis’s fate, particularly the location of her remains. Nieuwsblad reported that the family “will likely never receive answers” and expressed a desire to simply “know where my sister is.”
The raadkamer in Hasselt made the decision to close the investigation, leaving the family with unresolved questions and a sense of “enormous powerlessness,” as reported by HBVL. The case remains unsolved, and the whereabouts of Marijke Francis remain unknown.
