The Belgian Federal Police is again working with police forces in other European countries and Interpol to search for the identity of several unknown deceased women. The first campaign led to a major breakthrough in Belgium.
The cases of 22 women who were found dead in Belgium, Germany or the Netherlands, often after suffering extreme violence, were compiled on the Interpol website for the launch of the international campaign, 'Identify Me', in May last year. The aim was to bring the cases to international attention, hoping this would reach their relatives, friends or other acquaintances.
"Some 1,800 tips came in on the 22 investigation notices circulated internationally at the time," the Belgian Federal Police noted in a statement. All cases include unique elements to help identify the women: one woman had a tattoo of a black flower, for example.
"These tips led to a breakthrough in our country. For instance, 31 years after her body was found, Britain's Rita Roberts could finally be identified after family members recognised her tattoo." Of the seven Belgian cases initially listed in 2023, six remain unsolved.
Expanding search
Due to its success, the initiative is being expanded on Tuesday: 25 new cases of unidentified deceased women have been shared internationally via the campaign's website. Police in France, Italy and Spain are also participating to extend the reach.
Belgium's Federal Police has two new files in the now 46 cases. One case concerns an unidentified woman found in the Meuse River near the Quai Godefroid Khurt in Liège on 28 July 2010, also known as the "woman with the walking stick". The second woman was found in the Ostend Fairway on 6 August 2022, known as the "woman in Ostend harbour".
The woman found in Liège is between 60 and 80 years old, 153 cm, with grey hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a shiny grey and black chequered vest, a green T-shirt, a white top, blue-grey three-quarter-length trousers and light-coloured leather sandals. A dark brown wooden walking stick was also found near her body.
Credit: The Federal Police
Meanwhile, the woman found in the port of Ostend, is between 60 and 70 years old, 156 cm, with brown hair that was dyed blonde. She wore a dark T-shirt with the inscription 'Ibiza', blue jeans with pearls on the bottom of the trouser legs, a brown braided belt and a Bordeaux jumper.
Details of all the files, including facial reconstructions, pictures of tattoos, jewellery or garments and information about height, weight and skin colour, are compiled on the campaign website, where tips can also be submitted.
