Danish police have admitted that they are still baffled by the brutal double murder of a surgeon and his businesswoman wife last week. Heidi Neilsen, 49, and Bjarne Johansen, 53, were shot multiple times with an automatic weapon while on their daily walk in the woods near their home in Odense, central Denmark, on Wednesday 13th April.
A hermit, who had apparently been hiding close to the scene of the crime, was arrested on Sunday but released after police concluded that he was not viable suspect. “He is simply not able to have committed the killings. He is an alcoholic who suffers from gangrene in both legs,” said Henrik Justesen, deputy assistant commissioner, to Ekstra Bladet newspaper.
Despite receiving around 300 tips since requesting information from the public, police have still to find a concrete reason why anyone would want the pair dead. “Everything is open. It’s like a funnel, where we’re just hoping to find a motive in the end,” said Justesen.
One theory being investigated is that the shooter could have been a disgruntled surgery patient of Dr Johansen’s. “We have been told about patients who have been unhappy with some of the doctor’s operations. We’re now investigating whether this could be a possible motive,” Justensen told the newspaper.
They are also, however, looking into the possibility of whether Nielsen may have upset any of her business associates through her work as the chief financial officer of a local company. “Both victims have had positions where they have dealt with people. Maybe they have had to fire someone,” Justesen explained.
The couple were shot a total of 18 times from various angles.