‘Helicopter bride’ killer dies in jail weeks after ‘having sex with guard’

A ‘helicopter bride’ killer has died in a Belgian jail weeks after a guard-sex scandal, years after her ex tried to bust her out in a hijacked chopper

A convicted murderer dubbed the “helicopter bride” – after her husband tried to spring her from jail in a hijacked chopper – has died in a Belgian prison. Her death comes just weeks after she was reportedly caught having sex with a guard.

Kristel Appelt, 32, was found dead in her cell at Bruges Prison on Wednesday (May 20), prison officials have confirmed. She was serving a 25-year sentence for the murder of her former partner Andy Vandereyt, 30, who was stabbed to death in December 2018.

Appelt was convicted in 2021 alongside her former lover Bjorn De Candt, who was handed 24 years for his role in the street killing.

But it was Appelt’s explosive love life behind bars that frequently made headlines. In January 2019, Appelt met fellow inmate Mike Gielen by chance during visiting hours at a mixed-gender jail.

Romance quickly blossomed and the pair tied the knot behind bars in November 2019. Less than a year later, Gielen launched a bizarre, movie-style plot to bust his new wife out of jail.

In September 2020, Gielen hijacked a helicopter at gunpoint, forcing a female pilot to fly to the prison courtyard while Appelt was out on a prison walk.

The daring escape fell apart when the experienced pilot kept her cool, faked a hyperventilation attack and tricked the armed gang into abandoning the plan.

Gielen was jailed for five years over the botched prison break, which earned Appelt her “helicopter bride” nickname. The marriage later collapsed, and Gielen said he was left completely stunned by the news of her death.

He told local media: “This news is a huge shock to me. I was told this afternoon through victim support that Kristel had died. She died in her cell overnight and they found her dead this morning.

“Despite our break-up, her death has hit me very hard. I did not see this coming at all. There were no signals pointing in that direction. I have a lot of questions, and I hope I can get answers soon.”

Appelt, who was due to become eligible for early release in 2027, reportedly took her own life in what prison officials described as an “act of despair.”

The tragedy comes just weeks after a fresh scandal, in which Appelt was reportedly caught having sexual relations with a prison guard inside her cell.

The guard was immediately suspended and prison bosses had requested Appelt be transferred to another jail, but she died before the move could take place.

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