Four women are currently on trial in Utrecht after being accused of desecrating children’s graves during a séance in an Amersfoort cemetery.
Only one of the four, 81-year-old Irene B., actually turned up for the hearing. As RTL Nieuws reports, a whopping 58 people have filed complaints regarding the quartet’s actions.
Group used glowing cat toys to harass the dead
During their séance at Rusthof Cemetery in Amersfoort, the group set up measuring equipment and glowing, ball-shaped cat toys on graves. Why the latter? Allegedly, the lights would let them communicate with the dead.
By manipulating the lights, they attempted to get answers to their various questions. On the children’s graves, these included “Did you like football?” and “Could you keep the light on?” At one grave, they even wedged a ball between the letters on the headstone.
According to the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM), the suspects had “gathered at the cemetery that evening [September 11, 2021] to conduct, in their own words, a ‘paranormal investigation'”.
The public prosecutor, in particular, “resents the defendants for conducting their ‘investigation’ solely for their own pleasure” — “the way the defendants treated the graves goes against all sense of respect”.
Wait, the cemetery actually approved this?
Unfortunately, it did. Rusthof is run by the municipality of Amersfoort, and the cemetery’s management had given the group permission for their “paranormal investigation”.
In the wake of much public criticism, the cemetery director was relieved of his duties by the municipality. Amersfoort Mayor Lucas Bolsius even stated that he regretted the decision to allow the gathering.
At least ten families have since had their loved ones reburied elsewhere, with the gemeente covering the costs.
Video footage gave the game away
The whole macabre story came to light when someone found a video camera at the cemetery, which contained footage of the alleged séance.
As OM reports, the footage led to the identification of one suspect, who was “unwilling to provide very much insight into what happened”.
With grave desecration not particularly high on the list of priorities, limited investigative resources could be deployed, leading the case to drag on until 2024, when a mobile phone was seized. Chats on this device led to the other three suspects being identified.
Up to 200 hours of community service
The two highest sentences (of 200 and 180 hours of community service, respectively) apply to 49- and 42-year-old defendants. The former, according to the Public Prosecution Service, was the group’s organiser.
A sentence of 120 hours, meanwhile, applies to the 37-year-old defendant who only disrupted the adult graves.
Lastly, 40 hours, 20 of which are suspended, apply to the 81-year-old defendant, who was also responsible for filming the group’s activities.
The court is expected to deliver its verdict on November 18, 2026.
Do you think these sentences are too light, or do they fit the crime? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
