How do you disappear for 14 years without anyone noticing? It's the central question in a mystery case captivating people in Belgium.
The Federal Police on Sunday distributed a search notice for a woman named Heidi De Schepper from the province of Antwerp, who has been missing since 2010. The case has since made headlines and new details have emerged that raise even more questions about her disappearance.
"Since 2010, every trace of the then 26-year-old Heidi De Schepper from Merksem has been missing," the police wrote in a statement. The woman had been living in the municipality of Balen with her boyfriend and their three children aged 2, 3 and 7 since 2008. She led a rather isolated life and reportedly had a difficult childhood. At 18, she broke all contact with her own family to live with her partner.
According to Heidi's friend, she suddenly disappeared along with all her belongings. Her boyfriend confirmed that she went missing in 2010, but no one reported this, including her partner. The disappearance only came to light by coincidence last year, when a report came from the school of one of the children.
Removed from the register
The last administrative action made in her name was the collection of a provisional driving licence on 6 May 2010. However, it is unclear whether De Schepper collected it herself. This licence, valid for three years, was never exchanged for a full licence. Her identity card was valid until 2011 but it was never renewed or extended.
Her name had been removed from the population register list in Balen in November 2010, VRT NWS reported. This means that, administratively, the woman no longer existed in Belgium. Someone – who is not yet clear – informed the commune that Heidi was no longer staying at the address where she was registered. This official deletion normally follows an investigation by the police.
Police said a lot of research has been done over the past year to find out if there is any trace of Heidi anywhere, possibly abroad. "So far, this has yielded nothing."
Therefore, police are calling on people to provide tips about Heidi, and her disappearance, who knew her or who saw her before she went missing. "Several avenues are being explored. Did Heidi start a new life somewhere else, did she commit an act of desperation or is criminal activity involved?" the police said.
Anyone with information that could help police has been asked to contact them at opsporingen@police.belgium.eu. Witnesses can also call the freephone number 0800/30 300. The Federal Police have already received around 20 tips about the woman's disappearance since putting out the search notice on Sunday. Most of them come from people who used to know her.
