– If the case had happened today, I think we would have solved it in a different way. That’s what section leader of the investigation department in Midt-Troms, Katrine Grimnes, says. The police received criticism from Vålnes’ family for the way they handled the case, when he was reported missing and wanted in 2011. Per Vålnes was reported missing in 2011, but never found. The police believe he was killed, but the case remains unsolved. Photo: Private – Several months passed from the time he was reported missing until the police went to the family’s home and searched. What do you think about it now afterwards? – I have no problems understanding that criticism is coming. And I have great understanding of the criticism that comes, says Grimnes. – Was it a mistake on the part of the police? – If you want to call it a mistake… I can agree with that. I have no reason to try to pretend that it wasn’t something we should have done in a different way, says Grimnes. According to her, the biggest learning point from the Vålnes case is that they should have been more open to all hypotheses from day one when a person has gone missing. – We probably weren’t that at the time, and we take criticism for that, says Grimnes. – I have no problem in apologizing to the family that we did not think as broadly as we should have at the time. Was never found It is almost 13 years since the dog breeder Per Vålnes disappeared without a trace from his home in Balsfjord municipality. On 26 November 2011, he celebrated his 50th birthday. It is the last reliable observation of Per Vålnes. On 1 December of the same year, he was reported missing to the police. A major search operation was launched for the missing person. Then a tip appeared which raised the police’s suspicion that Vålnes could have been killed. Here, the police investigate traces at the house of Per Vålnes in Balsfjord. Photo: Jan Riise Pedersen / news Three people were charged with murder. Per’s former partner, her lover and a friend of the couple. But they were never prosecuted. The charges against the three were dropped and the case dismissed based on the state of the evidence. The three were released after 12.5 months in custody. A dismissal due to the “state of the evidence” occurs when the evidence is not strong enough for a conviction. The previously accused are then considered innocent, but the case can be reopened. Per Vålnes has never been found, nor has he been officially declared dead. Have not given up The head of investigations in Troms is clear that they have not given up on finding out what happened to Vålnes. – I absolutely believe that we will get an answer one day, says Grimnes. She still believes that there are people who have information that can provide answers, but that they may be reluctant to contact the police. Section leader at the investigation department in Midt-Troms, Katrine Grimnes, says they have not given up on finding out what happened to Per Vålnes. Photo: Dan Henrik Klausen / news – There can be many reasons for that, and of course we understand that. But I think that as time goes on, perhaps the fear of giving up information will weaken, says Grimnes. – Fear of the consequences this may lead to will perhaps be weakened, and people choose to come forward anyway. She says that they still feel pressure to solve the case, and that it has priority with the police. – There is an expectation among the public that the police will find answers to such cases. We still strongly hope that we will be able to answer that, says Grimnes. Published 24.10.2024, at 07.29 Updated 24.10.2024, at 07.52
ttn-69
The police admit mistakes in the Per Vålnes case – news Troms and Finnmark
