The Marei Stephansen Murder 1997: Strangled in Horsens
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Quick Facts
Horror in Horsens Fjord: 17-year-old Marei strangled
On September 15, 1997, [Internal Link Placeholder] was shaken when the body of 17-year-old Marei Stephansen was found in Horsens Fjord near Gyllingnæs. The young [Internal Link Placeholder] had been strangled and left in the cold, muddy water. Marei Stephansen had been reported missing the previous evening after a night out with friends in central Horsens. The grim discovery near Alrø quickly transformed a missing person case into an intense investigation of a brutal [Internal Link Placeholder] that shocked the local community.
Marei's final hours: Autopsy reveals violence
Marei Stephansen, a popular student at [Internal Link Placeholder] Gymnasium, was last seen alive leaving a café on Vestergade around 10:30 PM on September 14. However, she never arrived at her apartment on Søndergade. The autopsy confirmed the terrible suspicion: the cause of death was strangulation. Examinations also revealed signs of sexual assault and [Internal Link Placeholder] inflicted with a blunt object – possibly a metal cable found near the [Internal Link Placeholder] at Alrø. Forensic pathologists further determined that her body had been moved *[Internal Link Placeholder] mortem*, indicating that the perpetrator had actively tried to conceal the crime by dumping the body in Horsens Fjord.
Investigation: Clues and diary point to Jørgensen
The police's technical investigation at the [Internal Link Placeholder] quickly focused on distinct tire tracks in the mud at the water's edge. The tracks matched an older Ford Escort, which was traced to 34-year-old Jørgen Jørgensen. He was known to the police, having previous convictions for assault, among other offenses. Suspicion against Jørgen Jørgensen intensified when [Internal Link Placeholder] video showed him at a nearby gas station around 1:15 AM on the night of the [Internal Link Placeholder]. The cashier noted his nervous behavior and his muttering that, "It's not me." The crucial breakthrough came with the search of Jørgen Jørgensen's apartment on Møllegade and his [Internal Link Placeholder]: a technical examination found [Internal Link Placeholder] on a tarpaulin in the trunk, which matched Marei Stephansen's DNA. Furthermore, a diary was found in which Jørgen Jørgensen described disturbing fantasies about power over a young woman by the water.
Horsens Court (1998): Evidence vs. Jørgensen despite test
The [Internal Link Placeholder] against Jørgen Jørgensen took place at [Internal Link Placeholder] City Court in February 1998 and attracted significant [Internal Link Placeholder] attention. Prosecutor Holger Mikkelsen presented a compelling amount of [Internal Link Placeholder]: crucial DNA from Jørgen Jørgensen's palms matched skin abrasions on Marei's neck, directly indicating strangulation as the cause of death. Mobile data placed his phone near Horsens Fjord during the critical time period. [Internal Link Placeholder] testimony described screams and a man seen near the water that night. Defense attorney Peter Sørensen argued that Jørgen Jørgensen suffered from schizophrenia and acted in a psychotic state. A mental evaluation confirmed psychological instability and paranoid traits but concluded that he was sane at the time of the offense.
16 years for Jørgensen: Verdict and family grief
On March 3, 1998, Jørgen Jørgensen was found guilty of [Internal Link Placeholder] and the indecent handling of a corpse. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison, a sentence later upheld by the High Court. During the emotional [Internal Link Placeholder], Marei Stephansen's mother, Karen Stephansen, testified about the family's immense loss and shattered trust. The murder of Marei Stephansen left deep scars in [Internal Link Placeholder], where fear spread, and the general sense of security was severely damaged. Local initiatives attempted to restore safety along the fjord. Jørgen Jørgensen was paroled in 2012, but his fate took an unexpected turn when he disappeared during a trip to [Internal Link Placeholder] in 2015, leaving many with an unsettling feeling of unresolved issues.
Legacy of Marei: Unhealed wound and 'Girl of Light'
The tragedy of Marei Stephansen remains a painful memory in [Internal Link Placeholder] and has been covered in documentaries and books as a symbol of lost innocence and a community's shock. Her gravestone in Horsens Cemetery bears the poignant inscription 'Girl of Light in the hour of darkness.' Near Gyllingnæs, close to where Marei Stephansen was found, stands a small bed of white roses, maintained by locals, as a silent testament to the brutal crime that forever marked Horsens.
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Susanne Sperling
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