Cops on Tuesday took a 35-year-old man in for questioning after his six-year-old neighbour’s body was found hidden in a bush in Elim, near Bredasdorp.
Little Delvina Europa was raped and killed.
She had vanished without a trace on Sunday and was last seen entering bushes in Elim with a man.
Delvina’s family reported her missing on Monday and an extensive search was launched by police and community members.
At 7.45am on Tuesday, the tiny girl’s body was found. Soon after the discovery, cops took the 35-year-old man into custody. Sources reveal the man is well known to the family and lives close to their home in Elim.
On Tuesday, Delvina’s shocked family visited the scene where her body was found as forensic investigators worked for hours searching for evidence which could lead to her killer.
It has yet to be revealed how Devina was killed. The child’s family were too distraught to speak to the media on Tuesday.
Suspect arrested
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, confirms that cops took a suspect into custody following the discovery of the body: “The circumstances surrounding the death of a six-year old girl whose body was found today in the bushes in Elim near Bredasdorp is currently under investigation.
“The preliminary report was that the child was reported missing on Monday. According to reports, she was last seen on Sunday, 24 March, with a person walking to the bushes.
“Police together with the community members conducted a search throughout the night and the victim’s body was found this morning at 7:45 am in nearby bushes. mA murder and rape case were registered for investigation. A suspect, 35, has been taken in for questioning.
“Our crime scene experts are still on the scene combing it for clues.”
A family friend, who asked not to be identified and who was at the scene, said the child’s relatives are devastated: “The family is not ready to speak, they are here at the scene. Forensics are here in the veld.”
BURNT: Jodine Pieters, 17
Meanwhile, the family of 17-year-old Jodine Pieters whose charred remains were found in January 2018 at the P&B Lime Works factory, less than a kilometre from her Bredasdorp home, says there has been no justice for her after four suspects were released due to a lack of evidence.
“They were eight months in custody and police said they had to let them go because the DNA results were not ready yet,” says the relative,
“It has been 14 months and we are still nowhere with the case, the justice system has failed us.”