Belgians Grieve as Kidnapped Girls Who Starved Are Buried
Belgians poured out their grief at church and home Thursday as two 8-year-old girls held captive until they starved to death--alleged victims of a convicted rapist--were buried.
Relatives and friends and hundreds of sympathizers filled St. Martin’s Cathedral to bid farewell to Melissa Russo and Julie LeJeune, whose bodies lay in white coffins.
The nationally televised funeral of Melissa and Julie capped several days of shock after Marc Dutroux led police to their bodies, hidden in his garden. Dutrox is suspected of operating a pedophile ring.
The discovery led authorities to intensify their search for other girls reported missing in recent months, with the number of cases under investigation hitting 10 Thursday.
Dutroux, a jobless electrician, was arrested after two other girls, 12 and 14, were found alive but sexually abused in his cellar in Marcinelle.
Dutroux, 38, broke down under questioning. He led police to the bodies and admitted to kidnapping at least two other girls, who are still missing. Investigators hope the two are still alive, perhaps sent to pedophile rings abroad.
Authorities said Thursday they had detained another man in connection with the kidnappings. Public Prosecutor Michel Bourlet identified the man as Michael Diakostavrianos. He was the fifth suspect detained in the case.
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