Global police organization Interpol has launched a new campaign to identify 46 women whose remains were found in unsolved cases across Europe, some dating back decades.
The campaign, announced on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, aims to bring closure to cases involving women who were either murdered or died under suspicious or unexplained circumstances.
Interpol’s initiative expands on the “Identify Me” appeal introduced in 2023, which previously sought to identify 22 deceased women. The organization received over 1,800 tips from the public in response to the earlier appeal, leading to the expansion of the campaign to include cold cases from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, along with new cases from France, Italy, and Spain.
“Even the smallest piece of information can be vital in helping solve these cold cases,” said Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock. “Whether it is a memory, a tip, or a shared story, the smallest detail could help uncover the truth.”
One notable success from the 2023 campaign was the identification of a woman, Briton Rita Roberts, whose body was found 31 years ago in a Belgian river. She was identified due to a distinctive tattoo, which was recognized by a family member.
Interpol is sharing images of the women’s faces, as well as items such as jewelry and clothing discovered at the locations where their remains were found, in hopes of gathering more information from the public. “Our goal is to identify the deceased women, bring answers to families, and deliver justice to the victims,” Stock added.
The public’s assistance is seen as key to solving these cold cases and ensuring long-overdue justice is delivered.
