Behind the Scenes of a Tragedy
In May 2013, the high-profile disappearance of former Dutch international volleyball player Ingrid Visser and her partner Lodewijk Severein shocked both Spain and the Netherlands.
Media, Justice, and the Visser-Severein Case in Murcia
After checking into a hotel in Murcia on May 13, the couple vanished without a trace, sparking an urgent search across the region. Having established deep roots in Murcia, fluency in Spanish, and extensive local connections, offering direct assistance to the family became a vital priority. Working alongside lawyer and family spokeswoman Miriam van de Velde during an initial strategy meeting in Murcia, a structured plan was formed to coordinate public outreach and assist the search effort.
Navigating International Media Coverage
To mobilize public attention and support law enforcement, the team organized a major press conference attended by Dutch, Spanish, and international news outlets. Following the press briefing, state broadcaster Televisión Española invited Miriam van de Velde to their local studio for a live interview. A rare behind-the-scenes photograph captured Miriam in the studio during those tense days of intense media scrutiny. Tragically, the search ended in heartbreak when Spanish police uncovered the couple’s remains in a lemon grove near the rural district of Alquerías, confirming they had been murdered.
Seeking Justice for Ingrid Visser and Lodewijk Severein
Spanish authorities quickly arrested Juan Cuenca Lorente, former director of the CAV Murcia 2005 volleyball club, alongside Romanian citizens Valentín Ion and Constantin Stan. Investigations revealed that the crime stemmed from a financial dispute surrounding a failed marble quarry venture, after Severein requested the return of hundreds of thousands of euros in personal investment.
During judicial proceedings, Ion admitted to being present when the violent deaths occurred on May 14. In November 2016, the court sentenced Ion and Cuenca to thirty-four years in prison, a penalty increased on appeal in March 2017 to forty years. Supporting the Visser family throughout the agonizing search, investigation, and trial highlighted the essential role of clear communication, local advocacy, and legal perseverance during complex international crises.
Miriam van de Velde, lawyer and family spokes woman, behind the scene life interview on Televisión Española about the Visser-Severein case.
