Katty Oosterlinck, a 56-year-old Belgian expat living in Corralejo on the island of Fuerteventura, was reported missing by friends and family on Monday, May 4. Four days later, police made a grim discovery: her dismembered body was found at the Zurita waste processing facility in Puerto del Rosario, a landfill site approximately 30 miles from where she was last seen.
Discovery and Arrest
Spain's Civil Guard launched a search operation involving police and local volunteers after Oosterlinck was reported missing. On Friday, her body was located at the landfill. That same afternoon, her 22-year-old son was arrested by the Guardia Civil's Judicial Police in Las Palmas on suspicion of murder. Police have not released his name as the investigation continues.
Investigation Details
Authorities are reconstructing the events surrounding Oosterlinck's death. They visited her home in Corralejo and other potential locations connected to the crime. The Civil Guard requested access to the landfill from the Fuerteventura Island Council to search for clues. Her remains have been transferred to the Institute of Legal Medicine of Las Palmas for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Local media report that the case may be classified as murder, manslaughter, or another crime depending on the examination results. The son is believed to be the prime suspect and was due to appear before a judge on Saturday.
Community Impact
The crime has shocked the expat community in Corralejo, a popular area for foreign residents. Oosterlinck, originally from Beveren, Belgium, had lived and worked on the island for several years. A friend told Belgian outlet HLN News: "She has lived in Corralejo for a long time; many people know her because she can always be found in the town. I last saw her on the beach on Sunday afternoon. We haven't heard from her since, not even her daughter."
Police have not yet disclosed how Oosterlinck died or the circumstances of the alleged crime. The investigation remains ongoing.
