The dismembered body of an expatriate who had been missing in Fuerteventura was discovered at a landfill site on the Spanish island, leading to the arrest of her son on suspicion of murder. Katty Oosterlinck, a 56-year-old Belgian expat, was reported missing on May 4 by concerned friends and family after being unreachable for several days. Despite extensive search efforts by authorities and volunteers, her body was found four days later at the Zurita waste processing facility in Puerto del Rosario. Spain’s Civil Guard is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding her tragic death and has apprehended her son in connection to the incident.
The 22-year-old son was taken into custody by the Spanish Guardia Civil’s Judicial Police in Las Palmas on the same day his mother’s remains were located. Law enforcement officials have been reconstructing the events leading up to Katty’s murder, visiting her residence in Corralejo and other potentially relevant locations. Her body has been transferred to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Las Palmas for a detailed examination to determine the cause of death.
Authorities have reached out to the Fuerteventura Island Council for assistance in accessing the landfill site, where they believe crucial evidence may be found. Katty was last seen in Corralejo, approximately 30 miles away from the site where her body was discovered. Details regarding the exact cause of death and the specifics of the alleged crime have not been disclosed by the police, who have also refrained from disclosing the son’s name due to the ongoing investigation.
The shocking incident has deeply affected the expatriate community in the area, where Katty, originally from Beveren, had resided and worked for a number of years. A close friend of Katty expressed her dismay, stating that many people in Corralejo knew her well and had last seen her on the beach before her disappearance. The investigation continues, with Katty’s son considered the primary suspect pending the outcome of the forensic analysis on her remains, which will determine the legal classification of the case. The son was under police custody and scheduled to appear before a judge on Saturday.
