A Dutch teenage girl has been charged with murdering her parents and stabbing the family’s golden retriever before allegedly sending photographs of the crime scene to classmates, according to several Dutch media outlets.
A 15-year-old girl from Groningen was arrested after her parents, Johan and Mathilda, both 53, were found fatally stabbed in the family home on Thursday, according to the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.
The incident is being investigated as a double murder.
According to reports from, among others, De Telegraaf, the girl allegedly photographed her dead parents and shared the images with friends on WhatsApp shortly after the incident. Local police have not confirmed the content of the photographs.
One pupil told the newspaper that both parents could be seen in the images. Her father was lying on the floor, and her mother was lying on the bed. Both had their eyes open, and blood and a knife were visible.
Police have warned against sharing images from the crime scene and have urged people to report any such distribution.
The U.S. Sun writes that the teenager regularly identified as a dog and used to crawl around on all fours and bark while running through school corridors.
Classmates said that she wore a tail, dog ears and gloves.
Several of the girl’s fellow pupils said that she had struggled with her identity for several years. She initially identified as a transgender male before insisting that she was a dog.
According to reports, the girl had also slit the throat of the family cat some time before the killings. The cat was so severely injured that it later died.
The family of the victims has stated that they can scarcely comprehend what has happened and has asked for privacy during a difficult time.
According to The Sun, neighbours had noticed her unusual behaviour for several years and observed it becoming increasingly extreme over time.
They reportedly saw the girl running at full speed through the streets at night, sitting motionless on garden fences and shed roofs, and hiding in bushes.
According to the reports, the girl had also been absent from school for extended periods as her behaviour became increasingly unpredictable.
According to The Sun, the killings have sparked a broader debate about the growing influence of online groups targeting vulnerable young people.
Children and teenagers who are isolated or struggling with mental health issues may be drawn to the idea of living as animals.
What begins as role-playing or fantasy may, for a small number of individuals, develop into a more entrenched belief system that contributes to a further detachment from reality.
In this case, the reports suggest that the girl’s animal identity extended far beyond costume play, The Sun concludes.
The investigation is ongoing.