Title: British Woman Murdered in Belgium Finally Identified after 31 Years
In a major breakthrough, Belgian authorities have finally identified a woman who was found murdered in a river in Antwerp, Belgium, 31 years ago. The victim has been identified as Rita Roberts, a British national.
Roberts’ lifeless body was discovered lying against a grate in a river in Antwerp in 1992. Her body bore a distinctive tattoo of a black flower with green leaves and the inscription “R’Nick” on her right forearm. For decades, her identity remained a mystery, until a family member in the UK recognized the tattoo on the news. They promptly informed Interpol and Belgian authorities, leading to the long-overdue identification of Roberts.
This breakthrough in identification was made possible in part due to Interpol’s recently launched Identify Me web page, which has proven immensely useful in solving cold cases. Since its launch in May, the platform has aided in the identification of 22 other women found dead in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands in recent decades.
After the positive identification was made, Roberts’ family traveled to Belgium to meet with investigators and formally confirm her identity. However, Belgian police are still urging the public to come forward with any information that could shed light on the circumstances surrounding her violent death.
In efforts to raise awareness about unidentified women found dead, Interpol released a video in May featuring well-known women who appealed for information from the public. The video emphasized the importance of not letting these victims be forgotten. Among the unidentified women on Interpol’s list are those dubbed “the woman in the canal” and “the woman in the suitcase,” named after the locations where their remains were discovered.
Interpol, an inter-governmental organization facilitating police cooperation between its 195 member countries, continues its relentless efforts to solve cold cases and bring closure to families affected by these tragic incidents. The successful identification of Rita Roberts marks not only a major breakthrough for her family but also a testament to the power of international collaboration in solving crimes.
As the investigation into Roberts’ murder progresses, Belgian authorities remain hopeful that further assistance from the public will help shed light on the circumstances surrounding her death.
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