WILLEMSTAD, AMSTERDAM – Following the arrest of a new suspect in the murder of journalist Peter R. de Vries, his son Royce de Vries expressed hope that a “very large puzzle piece” has now been found. He shared his reaction Tuesday evening on the Dutch television program Bar Laat.
Earlier this week, authorities in Curaçao arrested Raily Bart, who has already been imprisoned for ten years at the SDKK facility. Despite being behind bars, Bart is suspected of having orchestrated the murder from his cell.
Royce de Vries revealed that he first learned of Bart’s identity through the media, though he expects to be briefed further in the coming days.
“We’re glad the puzzle is progressing,” he said. “We now hope that a very important piece has been found.” De Vries added that he is particularly interested in discovering who ordered the killing and why the fatal shooting was filmed.
The 39-year-old suspect has since been extradited to the Netherlands, where he will face questioning and potential charges.
So far, nine individuals have stood trial in connection with the 2021 assassination of Peter R. de Vries, a high-profile crime journalist and victim advocate. Six were convicted, while three were acquitted. The investigation continues, with this latest arrest potentially shedding new light on the masterminds behind the crime.