Belgian 'Helicopter Bride' Kristel Appelt Found Dead in Prison
'Helicopter bride' killer dies in jail weeks after 'having sex with guard'
Image: Dailystar Co Uk
Kristel Appelt, a convicted murderer known as the 'helicopter bride,' has died in Bruges Prison, Belgium. Her death follows a scandal involving sexual relations with a prison guard and comes just weeks before she was set to be transferred to another facility. Appelt was serving a 25-year sentence for the murder of her former partner.
- 01Kristel Appelt was serving a 25-year sentence for the murder of Andy Vandereyt, who was killed in December 2018.
- 02Appelt gained notoriety after her husband attempted to rescue her from prison in a hijacked helicopter in September 2020.
- 03Her marriage to fellow inmate Mike Gielen ended before her death, but he expressed shock and sadness over her passing.
- 04Prison officials described her death as an 'act of despair,' and it reportedly occurred overnight in her cell.
- 05Appelt was expected to be eligible for early release in 2027 before her untimely death.
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Kristel Appelt, a 32-year-old convicted murderer known as the 'helicopter bride,' was found dead in her cell at Bruges Prison in Belgium on May 20. Appelt was serving a 25-year sentence for the murder of her former partner, Andy Vandereyt, who was stabbed to death in December 2018. Her notoriety stemmed from her husband's dramatic attempt to spring her from jail in September 2020, when he hijacked a helicopter to facilitate her escape during a prison walk. However, the plan failed when the pilot outsmarted the hijackers. Following her marriage to fellow inmate Mike Gielen, which ended before her death, Appelt's life behind bars was marked by scandal, including a recent incident where she was reportedly caught having sexual relations with a prison guard. This led to the guard's suspension and a request for Appelt's transfer to another facility. Tragically, Appelt's death was described as an 'act of despair,' occurring just weeks after the scandal and before her anticipated transfer. She was due for early release in 2027.
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The incident raises concerns about prison safety and the management of inmates, particularly regarding inappropriate relationships between staff and prisoners.
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