The story of Farid Bouzid began in Algeria 🇩🇿, where he grew up in a modest family. He was an ambitious young man who dreamed of a better life in Europe. After deciding to make his own way in life, he moved to Belgium, where he began working various odd jobs to support himself. In 2014, Farid met a Belgian woman named Héloïse. She worked as a home-care nurse, looking after elderly people and visiting their homes to administer insulin and organise their medication. The two developed a relationship and moved in together at her home in the town of Visé. That same year, they had their first child. The couple lived together for four years, but tensions between them gradually increased because of their different personalities and cultural backgrounds. In 2016, as their daily arguments became more frequent, Farid began thinking about leaving. He suggested moving to Germany 🇩🇪, where his Algerian friends and relatives lived. He would threaten to pack his bags and leave for Germany if their disagreements continued. In 2018, when their son had reached the age of four, Héloïse woke up one morning and reported that Farid had disappeared. She opened his wardrobe and informed the neighbours and his family in Algeria that he had packed his clothes and left the house. She claimed that he had abandoned her and their child. She added that he might have gone to Germany, where some of his friends lived, or returned to Algeria. However, Farid’s family did not believe her account. They found it difficult to accept that Farid would abandon his son in such a manner. The Belgian police, meanwhile, did not take the report particularly seriously, reasoning that Farid was an adult who was free to leave the house. They carried out only a brief inspection of the property and found no evidence. The case was subsequently closed and archived. As time passed, the neighbours sympathised with Héloïse. To them, she appeared to be a woman who had suddenly been abandoned and left to face the burdens of life and raise her child alone. Meanwhile, all contact with Farid ceased, his phone was switched off, and his bank account became inactive. Eight full years passed, from 2018 to 2026, during which Héloïse continued living her normal life with her son in the same house. In 2026, a new officer and a capable investigator were appointed to the local police force. The investigator began reviewing old, unresolved cases, and Farid Bouzid’s disappearance caught his attention. He decided to reopen the investigation and question the neighbours and Héloïse. During the investigation, the detective noticed inconsistencies in Héloïse’s statements. Some neighbours recalled her saying that Farid had gone to Germany, while others said she had claimed he had returned to Algeria. However, among the neighbours’ testimonies, one particular detail emerged that completely redirected the investigation. One neighbour recalled that Héloïse had told him she wanted to lay concrete and build a patio in the garden to change the atmosphere of the house, escape her depression, and improve her spirits after Farid had supposedly abandoned her. Taking advantage of the neighbours’ sympathy, she persuaded them to help carry heavy bags of cement and concrete to construct the seating area just one month after Farid’s disappearance. They helped her in the hope that she would overcome her hardship, completely unaware of what lay buried beneath their feet. The detective began to wonder: how could a woman who had complained about financial difficulties and the loss of her partner’s support suddenly afford to install a concrete slab and build a garden patio immediately after his disappearance? The investigator obtained a search warrant. In July 2026, forensic and medical examination teams arrived and began digging beneath the concrete slab. continue reading below 👇