Married couple mysteriously disappeared in holiday paradise

The Belgian couple Marc Olbrechts (71) and Laura Trappeniers (66) have disappeared without a trace from their home in the holiday paradise of Tenerife.

Wednesday 1 May at 02:29

– They did not leave voluntarily, states a friend of the couple to the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN).

At around 4.37pm on Monday 22 April, the Trappeniers responded to an online advertisement. The same day they went to a yoga class, according to HLN.

It will now be the last sure sign of life from the married couple. Spanish authorities have wanted the couple, and their dark blue Opel Mokka. They do not rule out any hypotheses, not even that they are exposed to an accident.

A week later, the friends are left with many questions after a series of strange events throughout the evening and the following days.

HLN writes that the residential alarm was triggered on Monday evening. When the alarm company could not get hold of the couple, they called the emergency contacts that the couple had provided.

The contact persons were on holiday outside Tenerife and could not contribute, according to Het Nieuwsblad.

– The man who maintains the pool saw on Tuesday that the light in the house was on and the back door was open, the couple’s friend Jeanine tells the newspaper.

When the couple did not show up for a new yoga class on Wednesday, the alarm went off among friends.

Her friend Jeanine went to the couple’s residence on Thursday evening. She tells Het Nieuwsblad about several details that worry her:

– Some of the keys and Laura’s mobile phone were still in the house. Laura would never leave home without the house being tidy, but there was, for example, a glass on the table, she says.

– And then there is the cat. They were very concerned about the animal and always provided passports. If they were away for only a few days, a friend from the Netherlands came to look after the cat. No, they have not left voluntarily, says Jeanine.

The Belgian authorities state to the media that they are aware of the case and are working closely with the Spanish authorities.