Belgium has taken a somber step towards remembrance and healing by opening a memorial garden on the haunting site where the notorious serial killer Marc Dutroux imprisoned and subjected young victims to unspeakable horrors. This significant move comes more than a quarter of a century after Dutroux’s shocking crimes sent shockwaves across Europe.
Last year, authorities in the city of Charleroi demolished the chilling “house of horrors,” where Dutroux had imprisoned, tortured, and sexually abused children in a soundproofed dungeon. The house had become a symbol of unspeakable evil.
At the formal inauguration of the memorial garden, the parents of two of Dutroux’s victims, Julie Lejeune and Melissa Russo, will be in attendance. The garden is adorned with trees and features a poignant mural depicting a child watching a kite soaring into the sky.
Lead architect Georgios Millis expressed that the memorial symbolises life rather than death. He noted, “It was a very complicated project because of the severity of the tragedy and circumstances that are still very sensitive for the families.”
Marc Dutroux, who is now 66 years old, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2004. He was found guilty of heinous crimes, including murder, kidnapping, and rape, involving six girls and young women during 1995-1996.
The modest red-brick building in the Marcinelle suburb of Charleroi gained infamy when, in August 1996, Dutroux led police to two kidnapped teenage girls, aged 14 and 12, who were found cowering in the basement. The investigation revealed that eight-year-olds Julie and Melissa had also been held captive at the property for months. Tragically, their lifeless bodies were discovered buried at another location, with postmortem examinations revealing they had been starved to death.
Public outrage escalated as it became apparent that the police had overlooked multiple clues, and Dutroux had been released from jail in 1992 after serving only three years of a 13-year sentence for the abduction and rape of five girls.
Gino Russo, the father of victim Melissa, expressed his frustration, stating that important questions in the case remain unanswered. He insisted that the basement, where the horrific crimes occurred, be preserved intact for potential future investigations, a request the authorities have honored.
Dutroux abandoned his bid for parole in 2020, as a psychiatric evaluation deemed him to still be a danger to society. Meanwhile, his former wife, Michelle Martin, who was found guilty of aiding him, and a co-conspirator have already been released from prison.
In a grim reminder of the case’s enduring impact, authorities also recently demolished another house in the village of Sars-la-Buissiere, where the bodies of Julie and Melissa were discovered. The memorial garden now stands as a testament to the resilience of the victims’ families and the nation’s commitment to remember those who suffered in the darkest chapter of Belgium’s history.
