The couple lived together in Vreren, a suburb of Tongeren, for two years until September 2007, when Thoelen, 39, decided to leave Strusi, 35, and go back to her husband and two teenage children in nearby Alken. Shortly after, the former couple met to arrange the division of their household goods, and neither was seen again until Strusi’s body surfaced two years later.

The discovery of the Peugeot 806 containing Thoelen’s body came after a decision by the Hasselt prosecutor to carry out a thorough search of the canal. The operation will resume later this month in the hope that a murder weapon or other evidence might be discovered.

Earlier in the week, divers also recovered from the Albert Canal the car and body of Adam Koch. The death of the 70-year-old from Diepenbeek is being treated as a suicide.