The police have issued a notice for information about the whereabouts of a woman from Balen in Antwerp Province that went missing 14 years ago. The woman’s disappearance was never reported and it wasn’t until last year that, quiet by chance, the authorities noticed that she was missing.
Heidi De Schepper was 26 when she went missing in 2010. She was originally from the Antwerp district of Merksem but had been had been living in the village of Balen (Antwerp Province) with her partner and their 3 children aged 2,3 and 7 since 2008. She lived a rather isolated existence with little social contact.
As a teenager she attended a hairdressing school in the Antwerp district of Deurne. After what had been a difficult youth, she severed all contact with her family when she was 18.
On 6 May 2010 a provisional driving licence in Heidi De Schepper’s name was collected from Balen Town Hall. This could have been done by Heidi De Schepper herself or possibly by someone else. The provisional licence that was valid for 3 years was never exchanged for a full driving licence. Her identity card that was valid until 2011 was never renewed either.
No one reported her missing
Strangely, no one, including her partner, reported that Heidi De Schepper was missing. Her disappearance only came to light last year when her absence was reported by one of her children’s schools”.
According to the notice appealing for information about Heidi De Schepper’s whereabouts, her partner says that she suddenly disappeared with all her belonging.
"Nothing is being ruled out"
The police say that during the past year or so they have been investigating whether there is any trace of the missing woman both at home and abroad. The investigation has so far drawn a blank.
"Has Heidi started a new life somewhere else, has she committed suicide or has a crime been committed? Currently, nothing is been ruled out”.