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Murder of Emilie Meng

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Emilie Meng
Born
Emilie Anine Skovgaard Meng

(1998-07-31)31 July 1998
Korsør, Denmark
Disappeared10 July 2016
Korsør Station
Body discovered24 December 2016
Burial placeSkt. Povls Kirke
NationalityDanish

In the early hours of 10 July 2016, a 17-year-old Danish girl named Emilie Anine Skovgaard Meng (31 July 1998 – c. 10 July 2016) disappeared in Korsør. Five months later, her body was found in Køge Municipality. The case received major media attention and police and civilian investigations. On 26 April 2023, a 32-year-old man was charged with Meng's murder.

Disappearance

Street façade of Korsør Station where Meng last was seen alive photographed in 2015.

Meng was last seen walking home alone on foot from Korsør Station where she and friends arrived at 4 a.m. on 10 July 2016 after a night out in Slagelse.[1] She was expected to sing at a local church at 9:30 that morning, but never showed up.[2] Many volunteers helped the police to look for Meng. Several tips[3] led to three suspects, including a 33-year-old truck driver, and a 67-year-old whose house was searched five times, but they were later released. After four months, police operated on three theories: Meng had run away, was involved in an accident, or was the victim of a crime. During the 168 days she was missing, volunteers hung up missing person posters across the nation, with hundreds of volunteers also searching for Meng.[4][5][6]

Discovery of Meng's body

Korsør Church where Emilie Meng was buried.

On 24 December 2016, Meng's body was found in a lake at Regnemarks Bakke near Borup in Køge Municipality.[7] Police authorities cordoned off and investigated the scene. Police announced at a press conference the following evening that Meng had been the victim of a very serious. Investigation by police of evidence and mobile traffic from the area where Meng disappeared and where she was found took place.

On 26 December, a memorial service was held at Korsør Station attended by several hundreds of people, including the mayor of Slagelse Municipality, Stén Knuth. On 30 December, Meng's family requested the removal of all missing person posters since she had now been found. Her funeral was held on 19 January 2017 in St. Povl's Church in Korsør. She was buried in Korsør Church cemetery.[8][9]

In June 2017, the South Zealand and Lolland-Falster Police published the results of technical examinations of a surveillance recording from Korsør Station. The police's reconstruction of the video showed footage of an indoor corridor in addition to a view towards the station's car park the top left corner. Quite faintly, a bright passenger car could be seen driving around at about 4:07 a.m. on 10 July 2016. The poor quality of the video made it difficult to determine the car's model, but following several months of work abroad, it was an expert's assessment that it most likely was a Hyundai i30, model 2011-2016.[10] By then, police had interrogated roughly 650 people in the case, written close to 2,000 reports and compared approximately 400,000 cars with telephone information.[11]

In 2021, Danish police confiscated a white van that at the time of Meng's murder had belonged to Peter Madsen, a Danish convicted murderer for the 2017 killing of Swedish journalist Kim Wall, unsuccessfully looking for possible traces of blood in the vehicle.[12]

2023 arrest of suspect

Kirkerup Church near the scene of the child abduction which lead to the apprehension of Meng's suspected murderer.

On 15 April 2023, at about 11:45 am local time, a 13-year-old girl disappeared in Kirkerup, Slagelse Municipality after finishing delivery of newspapers to the surrounding area.[13][14] The same day, police, cooperating with other authorities, used dogs, drones, and helicopters to secure evidence.[15][16][17] A local property was cordoned off on the following morning.[18][19][20] At 10:57 am, police authorities stated they were working based on the assumption that a crime had been committed.[21][22][23][24] The event drew intensive media coverage in Denmark towards the otherwise relatively unknown village.[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] Early in the afternoon, police called for a press conference to be held at 3:00 pm.[35][36][37]

Briefly delayed, police inspector Kim Kliver announced that a 32-year-old man, shortly before the conference was to have begun, had been arrested in his house in Svenstrup, Korsør in which the missing girl was found alive and conscious.[38][39][40][41][42] Her mother wrote, "27 hours of nightmare is over and my dearly beloved Filippa is home",[43][44] in addition to Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen, expressing her gratitude.[45][46] Norwegian NRK journalist Søren Arildsen later described the event as follows: "A country that had held its breath for 27 hours could exhale. Almost all of Denmark had become involved. But primarily the local community".[47] Two other persons had also been arrested but released the same day because of their innocence.[48] Sunday morning, the police had received 600 inquiries from locals about the case[49][50] including dashcam recordings.[51][52] Correlation to the murder of Meng was at this point not publicly known, first being confirmed by police on 24 April.

Trial

Retten i Næstved (Court of Næstved) where legal proceedings against the 32-year-old are currently taking place.

On 18 April, the 32-year-old defendant underwent interrogation (grundlovsforhør) at the Court of Næstved charged with at 11:46 am on 15 April, having initiated a long-lasting deprivation of liberty as well as committed violence, threats of violence, and several rapes against the 13-year-old.[53][38] He pleaded "partly guilty" and was pre-trial detained until 11 May, with his name being prohibited from public release.[38][54] The judge argued for the detention partly by reason of the probability that other perpetrators could be at large.[55][56] Despite the name ban (which is normal in serious cases in Denmark and automatically removed once a person has been convicted), the defendant's name persisted circulating on social media.[57]

On 24 April, the B.T. reported that police had seized a white Hyundai i30 in Slovakia which the defendant had sold to a Slovak family in 2016; the same model as the one sought after by police in 2016 regarding Meng's murder. At a press convention held by South Zealand and Lolland-Falster Police on 26 April, it was announced that the 32-year-old had been charged with Meng's murder, as well as another unsolved crime in Sorø committed during November 2022.[58][59][60][61] The same day, it was confirmed by police that the 32-year-old back in 2016 had been integrated in Meng's murder case and was among the 1450 individuals who the police had collated DNA from,[62] but the DNA sample collected from the victim was too degraded and mixed to get a result with the methods existing at the time.[63]

On 9 May, the defendant voluntarily prolonged his detention.[61]

Legacy

The case was widely reported in the media. Three years after her disappearance, on 22 August 2019, television station TV 2 published a documentary named Hvor er politiet? (Where are the police?).[64] A few months later, broadcaster DR released a documentary series titled Emilie Meng – en efterforskning går galt (Emilie Meng – an investigation goes wrong).[65] During two seasons in 2019 and 2020, the B.T. made 22 episodes of the podcast series Emilie Meng Mysteriet (The Emilie Meng Mystery).[66] In August 2020, a true crime book titled Pigen der forsvandt (The girl who disappeared) authored by Jesper Vestergaard Larsen and Bo Nordström Weile was published by People's Press.[67] In 2021, a four-episode documentary by streaming service Discovery+ premiered under the name Nogen ved noget om Emilie Meng (Someone knows something about Emilie Meng).[68]

References

  1. ^ "Politi leder efter Emilie på overvågning, TV2, 12. juli 2016". Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Missing Danish girl found dead on Christmas Eve – The Post". cphpost.dk. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  3. ^ Emilie har været væk i fire måneder
  4. ^ "Største eftersøgning nogensinde efter Emilie". DR (in Danish). 15 September 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Frivillige klar til at genoptage eftersøgningen af forsvunden 17-årig". DR (in Danish). 13 July 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  6. ^ Moinzadeh, Mehdi (31 December 2018), "YOUTOPIA/ABOUT:BLANK", In Zukunft!, transcript Verlag, pp. 287–302, doi:10.1515/9783839439555-025, ISBN 9783839439555, retrieved 9 May 2023
  7. ^ "Emilie Meng-sagen: Kvinde så mand løfte på 'tung genstand'". sn.dk (in Danish). 4 October 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  8. ^ Maibøll, Tinie (30 December 2016). "Emilie Mengs familie beder danskerne om hjælp: Fjern plakaterne". www.bt.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  9. ^ Mortensen, Af Michael Bo (30 December 2016). "Emilies familie beder om hjælp: Fjern alle plakater". ekstrabladet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Anholdt 32-årig havde samme type bil, som blev efterlyst i Emilie Meng-sagen - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 19 April 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  11. ^ Thomas Albrektsen (21 June 2017). "400.000 biler er blevet undersøgt i sagen om Emilie Meng". tv2east.dk (in Danish). Wikidata Q117839866.
  12. ^ Peter Madsens bil undersøkes i dansk drapssak. Bergens Tidene, 29 September 2021
  13. ^ Krarup, Af Nicklas (15 April 2023). "Filippa er forsvundet: Her er den forladte cykel". ekstrabladet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Politiet efterlyser: 13-årig pige forsvundet ved Slagelse - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 15 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  15. ^ Skovmose, Ida Laursen Brock Jessica. "Søger med hunde, droner og helikopter efter 13-årige Filippa". TV2 ØST (in Danish). Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Forsvarets helikopter søger efter forsvundet 13-årig - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 15 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
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  18. ^ "Politiet afspærrer hus i lokalområdet, hvor Filippa er forsvundet: Mere mandskab kommer til". Politiken (in Danish). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  19. ^ Arildsen, Søren (16 April 2023). "Eftersøgning efter Filippa: Politi har afspærret hus". Sjællandske Nyheder (in Danish). Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  20. ^ "Muligt gennembrud i Filippa-sagen: Politiet omringer dette hus". SE og HØR (in Danish). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Status: Eftersøgningen af den 13-årige Filippa | Nyheder | Sydsjællands og Lolland-Falsters Politi". politi.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Politiets teori: Filippa udsat for kriminel handling - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  23. ^ Olling, Jakob. "Politiets teori: 13-årig udsat for kriminel handling". TV2 ØST (in Danish). Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  24. ^ "Politiet med nyt i eftersøgning af Filippa: 'Arbejder ud fra en teori om, at der er begået en kriminel handling'". DR (in Danish). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  25. ^ "Beboere i Kirkerup efter 13-årigs forsvinden: 'Sådan noget sker jo ikke her. Vi bor i en lillebitte landsby'". DR (in Danish). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  26. ^ "Politiet deler nyt billede af forsvundne Filippa 'som hun så ud, da hun forsvandt' | Nyheder". DR (in Danish). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
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  28. ^ "- Politiets teori fortæller os flere ting, siger retskorrespondent - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  29. ^ Blønd, Af Hans Christian (16 April 2023). "Politi indkalder til pressemøde i Filippa-sagen". ekstrabladet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  30. ^ Martinsen, Daniel; Lauritzen, Franziska Weiss (16 April 2023). "LIVE: Filippa er forsvundet – politi har afspærret område ved hus". www.bt.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  31. ^ "Politiet om forsvundne Filippa: Vi arbejder med en teori om, at der er begået en kriminel handling". Politiken (in Danish). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  32. ^ Heim, Simon Wincentz; Madsen, Malte Møller (16 April 2023). "13-årige Filippa er forsvundet". Berlingske.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  33. ^ Ritzau (16 April 2023). "Politi frigiver foto af forsvundne Filippa på cykel". Kristeligt Dagblad (in Danish). Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  34. ^ "Eftersøgningen intensiveres: Politiet har fået 600 henvendelser om forsvunden 13-årig". Jyllands-Posten (in Danish). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  35. ^ "Politiet indkalder til pressemøde om forsvunden 13-årig pige". Jyllands-Posten (in Danish). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
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  37. ^ "Politiet indkalder til pressemøde om forsvundne Filippa". Politiken (in Danish). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  38. ^ a b c "Her er sigtelserne mod den 32-årige anholdte - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 17 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  39. ^ "Pressemøde tog uventet drejning - Filippa fundet i live - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  40. ^ "Advokat: Oplagt at undersøge om Filippa-sag har forbindelse til drab på Emilie Meng | avisendanmark.dk". avisendanmark.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  41. ^ Lauritzen, Hans-Christian (17 April 2023). "Efter Filippa sag: Dét har børnene brug for". TV2 Nord (in Danish). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  42. ^ "Beboer i området: - Jeg har aldrig tænkt, at han skulle være en kriminel fyr - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 17 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  43. ^ "Filippas mor: - 27 timers mareridt er overstået - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 17 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  44. ^ Ritzau (17 April 2023). "Filippas mor takker for hjælp: 27 timers mareridt er forbi". Kristeligt Dagblad (in Danish). Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  45. ^ Hansen, Emil (16 April 2023). "Mette Frederiksen reagerer på Filippa: 'Jeg har været dybt berørt'". www.bt.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  46. ^ Øhlers, Søren (16 April 2023). "Statsminister Mette Frederiksen uddeler ros til politiet for indsatsen med af finde Filippa". Sjællandske Nyheder (in Danish). Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  47. ^ Reigstad, Joakim (22 April 2023). "Forsvinningssaker som denne ender sjelden bra". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  48. ^ "To personer løsladt i sagen om 13-årige Filippa - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  49. ^ "Politiet afspærrer hus i lokalområdet, hvor Filippa er forsvundet: Mere mandskab kommer til". Politiken (in Danish). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  50. ^ /ritzau/. "Politiet får 600 henvendelser fra borgere om forsvunden 13-årig | avisendanmark.dk". avisendanmark.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  51. ^ "Bodils bilkamera filmede 800 meter fra hvor 13-årigs cykel lå: 'Man kan se det hele'". DR (in Danish). 18 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  52. ^ Andersen, David (16 April 2023). "Politiet har fået video fra dashcam: 'Min video viser alt'". www.bt.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  53. ^ Hotvedt, Signe Karin (17 April 2023). "32-åring siktet for bortføring og voldtekt av jente (13)". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  54. ^ Søgaard, Signe; Bonvang, Laura; Eriksen, Amalie A. (17 April 2023). "Filippa-sagen: Her er sigtelserne". ekstrabladet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  55. ^ "Anklager: Der kan være en medgerningsmand på fri fod". DR (in Danish). 17 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  56. ^ Bonvang, Laura; Eriksen, Amalie A. (17 April 2023). "Filippa-sagen: 32-årig varetægtsfængslet". ekstrabladet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  57. ^ Marie Lagoni Pedersen (18 April 2023). "Navn på mistænkt i sag om bortført 13-årig bliver delt ulovligt på sociale medier". DR.
  58. ^ "Politi sigter 32-årig i flere sager - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  59. ^ Eriksen, Af Mette Fleckner • Sune Fischer • Linette K. Jespersen • Torsten Ruus • Amalie A. (26 April 2023). "32-årig sigtet i Emilie Meng-sag". ekstrabladet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  60. ^ "Politiet sigter fængslet 32-årig for drabet på Emilie Meng". DR (in Danish). 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  61. ^ a b "32-årig forlænger frivilligt sin fængsling - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  62. ^ Eriksen, Af Mette Fleckner • Sune Fischer • Linette K. Jespersen • Torsten Ruus • Amalie A. (26 April 2023). "32-årig sigtet i Emilie Meng-sag". ekstrabladet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  63. ^ "Særlig metode kan finde dna-match til Emilie Meng, siger ekspert". TV2. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  64. ^ "Ny TV 2-dokumentar om politisvigt i alvorlige sager". TV2.dk (in Danish). 19 August 2019. Wikidata Q117745823.
  65. ^ "Emilie Meng - en efterforskning går galt".
  66. ^ "Emilie Meng mysteriet". www.bt.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  67. ^ Genz, Jakob (29 August 2020). "Bog om det mystiske drab på Emilie Meng er et flot journalistisk arbejde, men også lige lang nok". Berlingske.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  68. ^ "Journalist forsvarer ny Emilie Meng-dokumentar". Politiken (in Danish). 1 October 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
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