Pragsdorf (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) – The loss and sadness are still great, but on his seventh birthday they wanted to forget the pain and sorrow for a few hours!
Just two days ago the verdict came down in the Neubrandenburg regional court: Geri K. (15) has to go to prison for seven years and nine months for the murder of little Joel (6). And now Kathleen and Till K. celebrated their dead son in their home town of Pragsdorf (district Mecklenburg Lake District). Because this Saturday Joel would have been seven years old…
Family and friends came to the birthday party in Pragsdorf
Birthday party where Joel had his last minutes
The whole family came together: In addition to his parents, Joel’s four siblings, Uncle Felix and Aunt Tini, Grandma and Grandpa were there. But acquaintances and friends also came to the meadow near the football field in Pragsdorf. It is the location where Joel was killed on September 14, 2023.
Little Joel starting school. He was killed on September 14, 2023 – by the neighbor boy Geri K.
The family set up a table and decorated everything with garlands, candles, photos and stuffed animals. The place of mourning became a place of celebration. Father Till to BILD: “Here we are closer to him than anywhere else.”
Mama Kathleen: “We don’t want to celebrate in the living room at home, but here. Here, where he had his last minutes. That’s why we make it nice here.”
The place where Joel’s body was found became a place of mourning. And now also the location of a celebration
Together they celebrated their son, brother, nephew, grandson and friend. In keeping with Joel’s spirit, there was strawberry shortcake and a Minion-themed cake that he loved so much.
It should be a birthday that Joel likes. With cake, sweets and children’s champagne
May 4th was Joel’s day!
Actually, Joel would have been born a day earlier. But because his big sister Chiara’s birthday is on May 3rd and mom Kathleen wanted a separate birthday for each of her children, the planned caesarean section at the Ruppin clinic was postponed by one day.
However, Kathleen didn’t notice anything about Joel’s birth at 9:30 a.m. There were complications and mom had to be put under general anesthesia. Papa Till held the 50 cm small and 3030 gram boy in his arms for hours until his mother woke up again.
“He was such a sweet dwarf,” Kathleen remembers with tears in her eyes. “Unfortunately he can’t celebrate and laugh with us today. But I hope he’s watching us from above. I’m sure he knows we’re here celebrating with him.”
“He was there when he started school”Parents of Joel (6) about suspected killer