What Happened to Maren in Morocco? Who Killed Maren Ueland and Louisa Vesterager Jespersen?
by Mathelene
Updated Jan 03, 2024
What Happened to Maren in Morocco?
In December 2018, two Scandinavian women, Louisa Vesterager Jespersen and Maren Ueland, were tragically murdered while backpacking in Morocco's Atlas mountains. A disturbing video showing one of the women being beheaded surfaced online, causing shock and distress. The victims, students from Norway and Denmark, had embarked on a month-long trip to celebrate Christmas.
The women went missing after leaving the tourist village of Imlil, and their decapitated bodies were found along with a destroyed campsite. Four suspects were arrested, and by July 2019, three men were sentenced to death for the murders. They confessed to beheading the women, with one admitting to filming the killing.
Despite a freeze on executions in Morocco since 1993, the death penalty was imposed. Additionally, a fourth man received a life sentence, and 20 others linked to the murderers received various prison terms. The primary convicts were ordered to pay compensation to Maren Ueland's family, but Jespersen's family faced challenges as they requested the Moroccan state to cover the payment, which was denied by the court. The perpetrators had pledged allegiance to ISIS just days before the crime, though ISIS did not claim responsibility.
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Who was Maren?
Maren Ueland, a resident of Bryne, Norway, was an individual with a passion for life and a connection to her homeland. It is known that she, along with her friend Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, embarked on a backpacking adventure in December 2018. This journey, meant to celebrate Christmas, tragically ended in Morocco's Atlas mountains.
The two friends were found decapitated near a popular hiking spot. Maren's life, like Louisa's, was cut short in a horrifying manner, leaving behind a legacy of a promising individual whose love for exploration and adventure met a tragic fate on that ill-fated journey. The details surrounding her personality, aspirations, and interests are not extensively documented, but her story is forever linked with the shocking events of that unfortunate trip.
Who was Louisa?
Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, born and raised in Ikast, Denmark, was a student with a zest for exploration. She attended Vestre School and pursued her education at Ikast-Brande Gymnasium from 2013. Louisa's adventurous spirit led her to travel to various countries, including Argentina, Peru, and Norway.
Her enthusiasm for exploration extended to her application for the Fjällräven Polar expedition in both 2017 and 2018. This revealed her desire for unique and challenging experiences. Unfortunately, her life was tragically cut short in 2018 when she, along with her companion Maren Ueland, fell victim to a horrifying crime while backpacking in Morocco. Louisa's story reflects a young woman full of curiosity and a love for new adventures.
Maren and Louisa's Murder Trial
Despite the country's moratorium on executions since 1993, Abdessamad Ejjoud, Youness Ouziyad, and Rachid Afatti were given the maximum penalty for their crimes. Ejjoud, a street vendor and clandestine Imam, and Ouziyad, a carpenter, confessed to the murder by beheading, while Afatti admitted to recording the gruesome act on his phone.
Alongside the maximum penalty, the four main culprits were instructed to pay 2 million dirhams in restitution to Maren Ueland's family. However, in a surprising turn, Jespersen's family requested the Moroccan state to cover the compensation, citing the inability of the men to afford it. The Moroccan court rejected this plea.
What Happened to Maren in Morocco - FAQs
Louisa and Maren were Scandinavian women tragically murdered while backpacking in Morocco in 2018.
The video depicted one of the women being beheaded and surfaced five years after the tragic incident.
Four suspects were arrested, and three were sentenced to death in July 2019 after confessing to the killings.
Three men received the death penalty, one got a life sentence, and 20 others received various prison terms for their roles in the murders.
Days before the murders, the perpetrators pledged allegiance to ISIS, although the group never claimed responsibility.