Nicky

Last Friday I went to a wood and heath not far from our house, on the Brunssemerheide. There is a small monument, on one of the paths that I regularly use while running. In 1998 a boy was found here, kidnapped, sexually abused and killed. Nicky Verstappen. Two years ago a man was arrested, a pedophile. The trial ended last Friday with a sentence of 12,5 years. This may not sound as much, but the problem was a lot of the needed evidence was gone or unclear. Like cause of death or whether it was murder or accidental death. But no sentence can ever bring the boy back. A little sketch to remember Nicky, and all other children who met this fate.