Dr. Johannes Opdam
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- Netherlands
- Location
- Netherlands
- Date of birth
- October 30, 1916
- Age at first offence
- 36
- Characteristics
- poisoner
- Victim profile
- Arnolda van Eyl (his wife) / Arie Lodder (inmate)
- Method of murder
- Poisoning (prussic acid)
- Date(s) of murder
- 1952 / 1958
- Years active
- 1952–1958
- Date of arrest
- —
- Status
-
Died in custody
Sentenced to life in prison on June 8, 1954; died in prison on October 14, 1983
Case record
Background
Johannes Franciscus Alphonsus Marinus (John) Opdam was a Dutch murderer. He was born in October 1916 in Surabaya, Dutch East Indies. In 1936, he moved to the Netherlands. He studied medicine and married Arnolda van Eyl, a teacher's daughter.
During his wife's vacation in 1951, Opdam had an affair with the couple's maid, Nellie. Mrs. Opdam found out. As a result, Nellie was sacked. Opdam continued the affair.
In 1952, Mrs. Opdam's health declined steadily until she died on the 24th of September. Doctor Opdam claimed it was a brain tumor. A colleague who performed the post-mortem disagreed and gave the cause of death as "unknown".
The offence
Mrs. Opdam was poisoned with prussic acid.
Investigation
Police were called to the case. A second examination of the body revealed Mrs. Opdam's body contained prussic acid.
Johannes Opdam was arrested. During the trial, he accused his mother-in-law of committing the murder.
Trial
On June 8, 1954, Opdam was convicted to life in prison for the murder of his wife, Arnolda van Eyl.
Sentencing
Opdam was sentenced to life in prison on June 8, 1954.
Prison and later murder
In the prison in Leeuwarden, Opdam continued his affairs. There he met Arie Lodder, who was also convicted for killing his wife. They agreed on writing notes confessing each other's murders, to be used when one of them would die.
In February 1958, Arie Lodder was found dead in his cell, which was next to the one of Doctor Opdam Lodder too had been poisoned with prussic acid and on his body was found the note, claiming that he had killed Mrs. Opdam.
It remained unclear how Opdam obtained the chemicals to poison Lodder. The note did not set him free.
In 1961, Opdam was convicted again to life in prison for the murder of Arie Lodder. He was described as the only one in Dutch juridical history to have been convicted twice to life in prison for two different murders.
Outcome
He died in prison on October 14, 1983.
Other details
References included J.H.H. Gaute and Robin Odell, The New Murderer's Who's Who, 1996, Harrap Books, London; Hans van Straaten, Moordenaarswerk, 1990, Amsterdam (Dutch); and Lennaert Nijgh, Moord & doodslag, 1990, Schoorl (Dutch).
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