The daughters of a woman killed in Mikkeli described their mother's relationship with the 19-year-old man accused of her murder. Police documents reveal the suspect had previously spent summers with the victim's family through a support family program.
One daughter told investigators her mother always spoke positively about the boys she hosted. "She really liked these boys," the daughter said in police interviews.
She remembered the now-accused teenager as impulsive and stubborn. He needed constant activity or he would cause trouble for neighbors.
The daughter understood her mother had maintained contact with the young man. He had thanked the woman for teaching him practical skills during his stays. The daughter believed this influenced his choice to study construction in vocational school.
According to the preliminary investigation, the young man went to the woman's house in Mikkeli planning to steal a car. He knew the doors were often unlocked and expected to find a vehicle he could use instead of a taxi he had just robbed.
He found car keys inside the home during the early morning hours. The woman woke up during his search. The suspect allegedly struck her multiple times in the head with a hammer.
He then set the house on fire by placing pillows on a stove. The single-family home burned completely.
Rescue workers described finding the victim buried under multiple blankets in the burning house. A firefighter said visibility was extremely poor inside the smoke-filled building.
They initially didn't suspect foul play. Later, the rescuer questioned why the woman would have covered herself so thoroughly with blankets. He concluded someone had hidden or covered the victim intentionally.
The young man faces charges of murder, violation of burial peace, and aggravated damage. The case highlights the tragic outcome of what began as a supportive relationship.
Support families in Finland provide temporary care for children needing stable environments. This tragedy shows how even well-intentioned social programs can have unforeseen consequences years later.