The Lowest Crime
A European true crime podcast about cases that happened in the Netherlands.
The Lowest Crime
Elzelien K: A Tragic Story of Medicine, Madness and Murder
What drives a seemingly perfect mother to murder her husband and daughter with an ax? In this episode we unravel the haunting case of Elzeline K., a devoted mother and wife whose life took a horrifying turn one September night in 2008. Listen in as we piece together the tragic transformation of Elzeline K. and consider the broader implications of this heartbreaking story.
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Hi and welcome to another episode of the Lowest Crime, a podcast about true crime cases that happened in one of the lowest countries in the world, the Netherlands. I am Eline and in today's episode we will take a look at the tragic case of Elzaline K, a seemingly loving 64-year-old mother and wife who one night did the unthinkable she grabbed an axe and killed both her husband and daughter. How could a devoted wife and caring mother be driven to such a horrific act? Before we start, please be advised that today's episode contains details of violence, mental health problems and attempted suicide that some listeners may find disturbing. Although I strive to bring you all the known facts, I am still just an amateur podcast creator and there is always a chance of me making an error. Let's get started.
Speaker 1:In the early hours of September 5th 2008, in the quiet village of Bad Hufedorp, emergency services received a chilling phone call. Elzaline K, who lived in a luxurious villa with her 61-year-old husband Cyril and their 22-year-old daughter Daphne, calmly informed them that she had just killed her family. When the police arrived, they found a gruesome scene that she had just killed her family. When the police arrived, they found a gruesome scene Cyril and Daphne lay in their beds, their heads brutally struck multiple times with the blunt side of an axe. Scattered around the house were little goodbye notes saying things like your mother has become insane, my depression has become a hell, and I have to spare the two who I love the most. They would never survive this. Since Elzaline had called the emergency services, it was immediately clear who was responsible. However, when they arrived at the scene, elzaline was nowhere to be found. Shortly after, in Overvein, a car drove full speed into a tree. Later, an officer saw a bloodied woman stumble out of the car Elzaline.
Speaker 1:Elzaline lived with her 61-year-old husband, cyril, a retired KLM pilot, and her daughter Daphne, who was a law student. They lived in a beautiful villa in Bothovedorp. Elzaline and Cyril had met each other in 1977, when Elzaline was a stewardess and Cyril worked as a pilot for Pakistan International Airways. Friends described Elzaline as a perfectionist, intelligent and a well-put-together mother and wife. She managed to work as a stewardess while taking care of her family, impressively juggling both roles. Her house was always immaculate and with her eye for detail, she could make the most beautiful flower arrangements. Their daughter, daphne, who studied law at the time, was cheerful and enterprising, with broad interests, one of which was gaming on her computer. She had always had a good relationship with her parents. Elsaline felt very close to her daughter, stating I knew everything about her. Cyril, on the other hand, was a sweet man but a bit eccentric, enjoying bridge, chess and tennis. At that point, he worked as a volunteer at the Tennis Association in Bad Hovedorp. The family was described by those who knew them as warm and loving.
Speaker 1:However, in 1998, the family experienced their first traumatic event when their 17-year-old son, jamie, died suddenly in a traffic accident. Jamie's death hit like a sledgehammer, severely disrupting the family. Each member dealt with the grief differently. For Elzaline, it became impossible to continue working as a stewardess due to the long hours and distant flights. She wanted to stay close to home. Cyril, on the other hand, wanted to keep flying as a distraction, but he was disqualified by KLM and forced to end his career as a pilot. Elseline, naturally a meticulous organizer, became even more concerned about Cyril and Daphne. And a meticulous organizer became even more concerned about Cyril and Daphne. Years later, it seemed to the outside world that the family had been able to pick up their lives as much as possible, but more was going on behind closed doors.
Speaker 1:The marriage was not without problems. There were tensions between the calm, religious Cyril and the strong-willed Elzaline. In 2008, the couple decided to go to therapy for a while after Cyril allegedly hit her during an argument. Shortly after that no-transcript. It's unclear, however, whether the hemorrhage was due to the fight that she had had with Cyril or if it had a different cause Around. This time, elzaline confided to a few close friends that she was not doing well at all and that she was suffering from a severe depression.
Speaker 1:Elzaline's mental health had been deteriorating for years. Her struggles with depression started shortly after Jamie passed away, and she had previously been treated with medication. Elzaline kept quiet about her issues with mental health. She did not like talking about her struggles. It was something she would rather keep to herself. However, her depression severely impacted her daily life and functioning, making even the smallest tasks seem insurmountable. Elzaline started sleeping poorly and began to think about suicide. For her, it was often the small daily problems that caused her significant stress. In the time leading up to the murders, she was extremely stressed about seemingly irrelevant things, such as algae forming in the pond and paintwork that was done at the house that she said she was unhappy about, and finally, daphne's computer, whose video card kept overheating and required constant repair from a friend. All she wanted was for her daughter to be able to do whatever she wanted on that computer, like checking emails and gaming, but the computer just kept crashing.
Speaker 1:In the months leading up to the murders, friends and family urged Elzaline to seek help. She listened and went to the doctor and was prescribed paroxetine by a substitute GP as her own GP was on vacation at the time. Paroxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI used to treat depression and anxiety. She had successfully taken it before but had also experienced pretty severe side effects, such as memory problems and extreme anxiety. The substitute GP prescribed 20 milligrams of paroxetine. However, elzaline initially did not take the medication. It didn't feel right. She preferred to wait for her own GP to get back from vacation to talk things over. It is also possible she didn't take the medication due to an increased sense of paranoia, with a friend mentioning that Elzaline felt like the police were listening in on her phone conversations. When she later visited her regular GP, the dosage was increased to 40 mg as the doctor was under the impression that she had taken the previously prescribed 20 mg without effect. In her desperation to feel better, elseline took more than prescribed, totaling 60 mg, likely worsening her symptoms and contributing to her mental instability. Worsening her symptoms and contributing to her mental instability.
Speaker 1:On September 5th 2008, just after midnight, elseline picked up Daphne from Schiphol station In the car. Daphne immediately asked if Elseline had gone to seek psychological help. Elseline had to admit that she had only received medication and had not yet gone to find a professional to talk to. This made Daphne very angry, as Elzaline had promised her she would. She also became upset with her father, cyril, for failing to ensure Elzaline sought help. This conflict created an unusually tense atmosphere in the house.
Speaker 1:After both Cyril and Daphne went to bed early, elzaline, feeling down and sad, smoked a cigarette in the garden a secret habit because Cyril was strongly against smoking. She also had a baileys, which was unusual as she rarely drank alcohol at all. Sitting down on the living room couch, she was suddenly overwhelmed by an unbearable feeling that she could no longer go on living Simultaneously. She felt she couldn't leave Cyril and Daphne to suffer the grief of her suicide, knowing herself what it's like to lose a son, jamie. Completely overwhelmed by these thoughts, elsaline decided to take them with her, so she used the first item that came to mind an axe that she had so often used in the garden. She went to the shed, grabbed the axe and first went to the bedroom where her husband was sleeping. She struck him with the blunt side of the axe until he was no longer breathing. She struck him with the blunt side of the axe until he was no longer breathing. She later stated that she had hoped it would be over with just one blow, but she was distressed when she had to strike him multiple times and she felt guilty for letting him suffer. She then went to Daphne's room and did the same.
Speaker 1:After the murders, elzaline drove to an apartment building in Haarlem where she and Cyril had once lived, intending to jump off the roof. Finding that the door was locked, she drove her car at full speed into a tree. Police later found her bloodied in the bushes. In her pocket was a letter to the student loan agency informing them that her daughter had been killed and was no longer in need of a student loan. Even in her state of mental turmoil, elseline exhibited a paradoxical concern for practical matters. The fact that she left behind notes meticulously detailing arrangements for mundane tasks showed a glimpse into her fragmented state of mind. She later stated that she could remember committing the murders well, but had no recollection of writing the notes.
Speaker 1:Elzaline's trial started in 2009. A great topic of discussion during the trial was whether or not she could be held responsible for the murders. Had she been fully aware of her actions or were they solely due to her depression and medication use? Her case became a focal point for discussions about mental health and the effects of medication on behavior. The court considered the influence of the medication she was on. Paroxetine is known to initially make patients feel more depressed before the medication starts to work. It first alleviates lethargy and lack of motivation, which can paradoxically increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions. It was later revealed that Elzaline was not just depressed, but suffered from bipolar disorder, and administering antidepressants to bipolar patients carries a significant risk of inducing mania. Dr Anton Lohnen, a clinical pharmacologist, also suggested that the brain hemorrhage might have made Elzaline more susceptible to the effects of paroxetine, leading to her mental breakdown.
Speaker 1:During the trial, elzaline's mental state continued to deteriorate, leading to psychotic symptoms. During the proceedings, elzaline was initially unwilling to stop taking paroxetine, partly out of fear of being confronted with what she had done. Her defense attorney had to convince her to switch from paroxetine to lithium, which significantly improved her condition, returning her to switch from paroxetine to lithium, which significantly improved her condition, returning her to her former composed self. This transformation truly highlighted how detrimental paroxetine had been for her. During the trial, elseline expressed deep remorse and confusion about her actions. She stated how can I make you understand what I can't comprehend myself? What went wrong in my head on that fateful night remains an unbelievable mystery. It felt like my brain was going to explode and I couldn't go on living. That I impulsively decided to take the lives of my dear husband and daughter, whom I absolutely adored, is incomprehensible. They were everything to me. I have nothing to lose and nothing to hide. Nor am I seeking something I have no right to. No matter your judgment, I have a life sentence because I have lost them forever. Elzaline was found guilty but was deemed to have diminished responsibility due to her mental state. She was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Speaker 1:Elzaline's story shows the importance of seeking help and the potential consequences when mental health is neglected. Her story is a tragic example of how untreated mental health problems and the improper use of medication can lead to devastating consequences. It emphasizes the need for openness and a greater awareness of mental health problems, as well as the importance of supporting those struggling with their mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please seek professional help. Thank you all. So much for listening to the Lowest Crime. Be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Also, don't forget to follow this podcast on Instagram to find all images related to the case. I look forward to seeing you in the next one. Thank you.
