Public criticism follows police handling of Randers homicide

Residents in Randers and social media users have questioned why Østjyllands Police initially ruled out foul play after a 20-year-old man was found dead in the Gudenå River on Friday morning, only to later classify the case as a homicide.

The shift came after a 16-year-old boy, accompanied by his parents, turned himself in at the police station Friday evening and was arrested. Later that night, an 18-year-old man was also detained. Both are now charged with killing the victim by beating, kicking, and strangling him before holding his head underwater.

Local residents expressed frustration over the police’s early statement. “They should have thought twice before going public like that,” said Lotte Sejr, a cafeteria worker. Berit Skipper, a retiree, added, “The sooner they start investigating properly, the better the chance of solving it.”

On Facebook, users echoed the criticism. One comment called the handling “extremely unprofessional and amateurish,” while another stated, “This is a mistake.” Jamie Thorndal, a local resident, told DR, “It seems very unserious. If you find a dead body, you consult a doctor and examine it before making statements to the media. It’s criticizable to put something like that out.”

Thorndal also raised concerns that the early dismissal of criminal activity could have hindered the investigation. “If the 16-year-old hadn’t felt guilty, he might not have come forward,” he said.

Flemming Nørgaard, the lead investigator for Østjyllands Police, rejected the criticism, stating that the case was never closed. “The investigation continued throughout the day. We collected video evidence, interviewed witnesses, and took steps you would expect in a homicide case from the start,” he said.

Nørgaard acknowledged that police issued their initial statement—made around 9:30 a.m. Friday—based on the information available at the time. “We give the press the most honest answer we can. At that point, we had no reason to believe it was a crime,” he said, adding that the force regularly evaluates its communication practices.

The homicide is believed to have occurred between 2:00 and 3:30 a.m. on Friday. Police have not yet determined the exact cause of death.