INTERPOL and 6 European countries ask citizens to help identify 46 murdered women in “cold case” project IDENTIFY ME.

Six European countries and INTERPOL have joined forces to solve 46 cold cases involving unidentified women whose remains were found years ago across Europe.

Most of the women were murdered or died under suspicious or unexplained circumstances. Some cases date back decades.

The initiative is based on the success of the appeal of “Identify Me,” launched in May 2023 to identify 22 women found deceased, has received approximately 1.800 reports from the public. It has now been expanded to include further unsolved cases in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as cases from the new accession countries France, Italy and Spain.

The appeal highlights the importance of public involvement and international cooperation in solving cold cases. It offers hope that crucial clues may be obtained so that the majority of these women can be identified and justice can be done if murder is proven.

“Identify Me” has already achieved significant results, such as solving a case after 31 years. Two days after the launch of the first phase of “Identify Me”, on May 10, 2023, Rita Roberts’ relatives in the United Kingdom contacted the portal after recognizing their relative’s tattoo from the news.

Rita Roberts was 31 when she left Cardiff, Wales, in February 1992. Her family last heard from her in May 1992 and her unidentified body was found in Antwerp on 3 June 1992.

An investigation determined that she had been the victim of murder. This case continues to be part of the international effort to seek information, identify and seek justice for these deceased women.

Celebrity Ambassadors

The appeal has the strong support – also in a video – of the following important actresses, singers and athletes from the countries involved, to help raise awareness of the unsolved cases and encourage public involvement:

Belgium: Veerle Baetens and Axelle Red

France: Marie-José Pérec and Sarah Biasini

Germany: Regina Halmich and Katrin Müller-Hohenstein

Italy: Carolina Kostner and Alice Bellandi

Netherlands: Carice van Houten and Stien den Hollander

Spain: Luisa Martin and Mabel Lozano

The Unsolved Cases

Details of each case are available on INTERPOL’s “Identify Me” webpage, including facial reconstructions of some of the women.

There are also images of objects such as jewelry and clothing that have been discovered at various sites, both terrestrial and aquatic, where the women's remains were abandoned.

Such cases highlight the difficulties in identifying human remains, often found years after the crime in remote or isolated locations, as well as the challenge of tracing the countries of origin of some of these deceased women.

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

“Our goal with the “Identify Me” campaign is simple. We want to identify deceased women, provide answers to families, and bring justice to victims. But we can’t do it alone. That’s why we’re asking the public to join us in this effort. Their help could make a difference.

Even the smallest piece of information can be crucial in helping to solve these unsolved cases. Whether it’s a memory, a tip, or the sharing of a story, the smallest detail could help uncover the truth. The public could be the key to revealing a name, a past, and bringing long-overdue justice.”

Role of Forensic Science in Unsolved Cases

Participating Member States and INTERPOL are working closely together in the appeal to leverage their analytical capabilities and advanced forensic methods, such as DNA profiling, facial reconstruction and isotope analysis. These techniques can provide significant clues about the victim's origin, lifestyle and cause of death.

Since 2021, INTERPOL has been providing investigators with a new global tool, the I-Familia database, containing approximately 20.000 profiles from nearly 80 countries. Some cases have already been solved by facilitating the identification of unknown bodies through international family DNA comparisons.

These cases are based on voluntary DNA donations by relatives of the missing, and highlight the role played by the public and partners when it comes to identifying missing persons.

INTERPOL Black Notices

INTERPOL has issued a Black Notice for each of the unknown women, seeking information on the unidentified bodies and determining the circumstances of their deaths.

Although these notices are intended for law enforcement purposes only, with “Identify Me” INTERPOL has, for the first time, publicly released excerpts from the Black Notices.

Black Notices may include information about where the body was found, biometric information (DNA, fingerprints, facial images), dental records, physical descriptions of the body or clothing, and any other details relevant to identifying people found dead.

What can you do

Each of these deceased women has a story and relatives who deserve answers. We urge anyone with information to come forward and contribute to this vital effort.

Citizens, particularly those remembering a lost friend or family member, are encouraged to consult the INTERPOL website and contact their national police forces. competent if they have any information. Details are available on the website www.interpol.int/IM

Biological relatives who believe one of the women may be their missing loved one should know that national police forces can work with INTERPOL for an international DNA comparison.

Contact forms are located at the bottom of each case summary, providing a vital link for families seeking answers and justice.