The body found in the waters of Houtdok in Ghent on Thursday belongs to a 9-year-old boy. This was confirmed by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in East Flanders.
The mother was arrested, while her boyfriend is on the run. The boy probably died after being badly beaten earlier this year.
The boy has been missing since the beginning of this year. The boy’s body was found yesterday by a passerby, along with his mother and sister, near the victim’s home.
Captured SMS
The mother and her then-boyfriend emerged as suspects after a text message from her resulted in an uncle living in Germany, Belgian newspaper De Morgen wrote. The uncle then informed the police.
The newspaper reported that the victim died as a result of being harassed by her boyfriend at the time. He would abuse the child more often. After the boy’s death, the man is said to have placed the body with his mother in a duffel bag filled with stones at Houtdok in Ghent.
Source: NOS

Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.