By hannover-web.com Interpol has launched an ambitious campaign to identify several deceased women, including a teenage girl who was brutally murdered over 40 years ago in western France. The investigation is piecing together a mystery marked by scarce evidence, which includes a pair of red shoes, a couple of beaded necklaces, and a British 10p coin.
This initiative is part of a larger effort targeting 46 cold cases throughout Europe, aimed at uncovering the identities of unidentified murder victims. The campaign follows a successful partnership with the BBC last year, which helped identify a British woman nearly three decades after her murder.
Jürgen Stock, Secretary-General of Interpol, emphasized the importance of community involvement, stating, “Our goal is to provide answers to families and deliver justice to these victims. No detail is too small—whether it’s a memory, a tip, or a shared story, any piece of information could help illuminate the truth.”
The second phase of the Operation Identify Me campaign encompasses cases from various countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, and Spain. Each case is featured on Interpol’s website, showcasing photographs of potential identifying items and facial reconstructions. Many victims are believed to be between the ages of 15 and 30.
The story of the teenage girl—with her body discovered hidden under leaves in a layby near Le Cellier in 1982—remains particularly haunting. Detective Franc Dannerolle, who has been on this case for years, expressed his sorrow: “Her body was disposed of like garbage. There was no respect or care for her before her death.” The British coin suggests she may have connections to the UK.
While specific details of her murder have been kept from the public to prevent false claims, the lack of her remains adds another layer of difficulty. Dannerolle commented, “If we manage to find them, we could potentially link her DNA to family members.”
Retired detective Alain Brillet, who also worked on the case, reflected on the profound uncertainty, calling it a “triple enigma.” He lamented, “We knew someone was murdered, but we could never learn her name, her origin, or who killed her.”
In the village where her body was found, fear gripped the community, and most people moved on, likely forgetting the tragedy, save for a few who still recall the dark event.
The launch of the Operation Identify Me initiative marked a significant moment for Interpol, as it was the first time the organization publicly issued “black notices” to seek information about unidentified bodies, a practice previously limited to internal communications. Dr. Susan Hitchin, coordinator of Interpol’s DNA unit, highlighted the tragic fate of these women: “They became victims twice—first through violence and then in death without a name.”
The campaign strategically uses social media to engage specific communities and demographics, also involving celebrities to raise awareness and garner public support.
One case drawing notable attention comes from Wassenaar in the Netherlands, where a woman’s body was discovered nearly two decades ago. Forensic investigator Sandra Baasbank vividly remembers her first encounter with this case. “The woman was found face-down in the sand dunes, and she bore no visible injuries. She was dressed in an unusual manner for a beach stroll; it raised many questions,” Baasbank recalled.
Forensic investigations suggest she was originally from Eastern Europe but lived her last years in Western Europe, with one of her keys traced back to Germany. Baasbank expressed a steadfast commitment, saying her experience with this case has instilled in her a motto: “Never give up.”
Baasbank hopes this current campaign will generate new leads and provide closure for families. Her optimism is fueled by previous successes, including the identification of Rita Roberts, a British woman murdered in Belgium. After seeing her tattoo publicized by the BBC, Rita’s family was able to confirm her identity, finally putting years of uncertainty to rest.
Rita’s sister, Donna, shared her emotional response to the news, saying, “When we heard the news, I broke into tears. It’s difficult to learn of her death, but I find comfort knowing Rita is now at peace.”
Now that Rita has been identified, her family is reaching out, appealing for any information that could shed light on other unsolved cases. They emphasize that these women should not be seen as nameless victims but as “sisters, mothers, aunties.” As Donna poignantly stated, “Just because they don’t have names doesn’t mean they aren’t people.”
