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The border area of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Operation Identify Me was launched on 10 May 2023 by Interpol to solve cold cases across Western Europe to identify 22 unidentified women who were found deceased in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany between 1976 and 2019.[1] Most of the women were murdered, and none had ever been identified.[2]

A public appeal was made for information surrounding the unidentified women.[3] Interpol alongside Dutch, German, and Belgian police forces released forensic facial reconstructions as well as other information used in the investigations.[4] It is believed some of the murdered women may be from parts of Eastern Europe.[5]

The second phase of the project was launched in October 2024.[6] The 46 newly publicised cases were expanded to France, Italy and Spain. [7]

Cases (2023)

[edit]

The suspected murder cases in the first phase span five decades.[8] The bodies were discovered between October 1976 and August 2019.[9] Their average ages range from 15 to 30.[10] Most of the women suffered violent deaths.[11]

# Case code Case name Date of discovery Country Location Estimated age Progress Details
1 NL01 "Heul Girl"/ "The girl on the parking lot" 24 October 1976 Netherlands A12 motorway near Maarsbergen 13 to 20 Unidentified

Hikers were near the former parking De Heul on the A12, in Maarsbergen, Netherlands, between Utrecht and Arnhem. Hidden under soil and branches, they found the body of a woman.[12] It had been linked to a missing person case in the same area but in 2006 it was found to have been incorrect.[13]

2 DE02 "The woman by the motorway" 16 March 1986 Germany Near Heidelberg 27 to 33 Unidentified A woman was found near the Weißer Stock parking area where the A6 motorway meets the A5.[14]
3 DE05 "The woman in men’s clothing" 8 November 1988 Germany Spandauer Vorstadt 25 to 30 Unidentified A group of seven forest workers found the body of a woman lying in a hole in the middle of a fenced and protected area. It is believed that the hole had been opened by foxes.[15]
4 NL02 "Teteringen Girl" 25 December 1990 Netherlands Teteringen, Breda 15 to 25 Unidentified The body of an olive skinned woman was found in the woods in Teteringen, near Breda on Christmas Day 1990.[16][17]
5 BEL01 "The woman in the well" 6 August 1991 Belgium Attenhovendreef, Holsbeek 30 to 55 Unidentified The body of a woman was found in a rainwater well in the grounds of a cottage. Her body might have been in the well for up to two years.[18]
6 BEL02 "The woman with the flower tattoo" 3 June 1992 Belgium Antwerp 31[19] Identified The body of a woman was found lying against a grate in the river ‘Groot Schijn' in Antwerp.[20] She had a tattoo of a black flower on her left arm.[21] In November 2023 she was identified as Rita Roberts from the United Kingdom.[19]
7 NL03 "The woman in the canal" 7 September 1992 Netherlands Amsterdam 25 to 45 Unidentified On 6 September 1992, in the centre of Amsterdam, a passer-by found two hands at Lauriergracht; when the canal was searched, two lower legs were found. Subsequently, a suitcase containing the torso of a female was found in the canal at Egelantiersgracht. Some days later, more body parts were found at Prinsengracht.[22]
8 NL04 "Woman at the border" 6 July 1994 Netherlands Retranchement, near the border with Belgium. 35 to 47 Unidentified Body parts were found in a thicket at the edge of the parking lot of visitors’ centre.[23]
9 NL05 "The woman with the bracelet" 13 January 1995 Netherlands Uilenstede, Amstelveen 20 to 35 Unidentified A passer-by saw a plastic package floating in the water and called the police. The package turned out to contain part of the body of a woman, wrapped in a sheet. Her head, lower legs and one arm were not found.[24]
10 BEL03 "The woman in the dam" 9 May 1996 Belgium Froidchapelle 25 to 35 Unidentified The body of a woman was found in the lake near the La Plate Taille dam in Froidchapelle. The body may have been in the water for up to 1 or 2 years.[25]
11 DE03 "The burned body in the forest" 2 June 1997 Germany Altena 18 to 22 Unidentified A nude female body was found in a wooded area in Altena-Bergfeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. The victim had been raped, strangled and then set on fire.[26] Post-mortem exams showed that it is almost 100% certain that the crime was committed by a member of the victim's family.[27]
12 DE06 "The woman with the flower skirt" 24 July 1997 Germany Todtnau Around 20 Unidentified The partially burnt body of a woman was found in a pit near Weissenbach forest car park.[28]
13 NL06 "The woman on the boat" 16 January 1998 Netherlands Amsterdam 25 to 35 Unidentified The body of a woman was found on a burnt out houseboat.[29]
14 NL07 "The woman in the Gaasp river" 17 September 1999 Netherlands Driemond 18 to 35 Unidentified The body of a woman who was killed by gunshot was found in an industrial waste container floating in the Gaasp river and encased in concrete.[30]
15 DE01 "The body in the bog" 14 October 2001 Germany Worringen, Cologne 20 to 30 Unidentified A mushroom picker found the dead body of a woman, thought to have been mixed race, in the Worringer Bruch bog area in the Worringen quarter of Cologne.[31] The body had been there for at least four months, and four years at the latest.[32]
16 BEL04 "The woman in the Scheldt" 20 April 2002 Belgium Antwerp 20 to 40 Unidentified A body was found in the River Scheldt in the Linkeroever area of Antwerp.[33]
17 DE04 "The body in the carpet" 30 July 2002 Germany Port at the Weser in Bremen 22 to 35 Unidentified A bundle containing the body of a woman was found in the River Weser by a boat skipper.[34]
18 NL08 "The woman in the IJ river" 17 May 2004 Netherlands Amsterdam 16 to 35 Unidentified The body was found in a suitcase in the IJ River.[35]
19 NL09 "The woman in the suitcase" 12 October 2005 Netherlands Thorbeckesingel, Schiedam 16 to 22 Unidentified The body was found in a suitcase in a canal at Thorbeckesingel.[35] The suitcase had been there for some time.[36]
20 BEL05 "The woman in the Meuse" 7 June 2005 Belgium Jambes 25 to 40 Unidentified A body was found in the River Meuse.[37]
21 BEL06 "The woman with the artificial nails" 31 May 2009 Belgium Visé, near the Dutch border 14 to 24 Unidentified The body of a young woman was found in the Albert Canal in Visé. It had been weighed down by weights.[38]
22 BEL07 "The woman in the park" 29 August 2019 Belgium Liège 35 to 45 Unidentified The partially charred skeleton of a woman was found in vegetation near a pathway in Parc de Cointe on Boulevard Gustave Kleyer [fr].[39]

Cases (2024)

[edit]
# Case code Case name Date of discovery Country Location Estimated age Progress Details
23 FR07 "The girl with the 10-pence coin" 25 November 1982 France Departmental road D723 in Le Cellier 16 to 23 Unidentified The victim's skeletonized remains were found in a wasteland by a hunter. It is believed that she died sometime between June and September 1982, and that she might be from the United Kingdom or at least visited this country due to the presence of a 10-pence coin near her body.[40]
24 DE09 "The woman with the paisley jeans" 8 February 1989 Germany An abandoned quarry near Lahn-Dill-Kreis 22 to 32 Unidentified The woman's body, found covered with rubbish, was approximately there for two weeks to two months, with investigators believing that she died via asphyxiation after becoming intoxicated. She might originate from Thailand, and likely gave birth at least once during her lifetime.[41]
25 FR03 "The woman with the special teeth" 29 January 1994 France Bois d'Alix, in Lassy, Val-d'Oise approx. 25 Unidentified The woman's skull was found by a hunter, with additional remains buried in the area being located by gendarmeries.[42]
26 DE07 "The woman with the “Little Italy” T-shirt" 20 August 1994 Germany Military training area near Hanover 30 to 55 Unidentified The skeletal remains of the victim were found in a trench near the military training area. It is estimated that she died two to five years prior, but the exact cause of death could not be determined.[43]
27 ES03 "The woman who wasn’t alone" 27 January 1999 Spain Hotel room in Premià de Mar 23 to 25 Unidentified The victim was found with her hands tied and bearing signs of violence. She was last seen in the company of an unidentified young white male who spoke French and English, with the pair possibly coming Geneva, Switzerland or a nearby town with "ville" in its name.[44]
28 IT03 "The woman in the cardboard box" 14 June 2001 Italy Via de Freigoso, Genoa 30 to 40 Unidentified The woman, a possible drug mule from South America, died after a capsule containing crack cocaine ruptured inside her body.[45]
29 FR05 "The pregnant woman with the garnet necklaces" 3 July 2001 France Mimeure approx. 35 Unidentified The woman's body, wrapped in a bag made out of a pair of curtains with a paisley pattern, was found in a forest by a walker. At the time of her death, she was seven to nine months pregnant.[46]
30 DE08 "Girl from the Main"/ "The girl in the River Main" 31 July 2001 Germany River Main in Frankfurt 13 to 16 Unidentified The girl, possibly originating from an area along the Durand Line, was found wrapped up in a bundle. It is believed that she was severely mistreated and possibly sexually abused in life, leading to her eventual death.[47]
31 ES04 "The woman on the road" 3 November 2003 Spain Malgrat de Mar 25 to 30 Unidentified The woman was found dead on a rural road with multiple stabbing injuries to the face. It was initially believed it might be linked to a similar case in the Netherlands in 2016, but this was ruled out.[48]
32 IT02 "The woman with the watch" 23 January 2004 Italy Wooded area in Asso Unknown Unidentified The woman's body was found in a wooded area.[49]
33 NL10 "The woman with the German keys" 4 July 2004 Netherlands Meijendel dune near Wassenaar 35 Identified The woman's body was found on a beach at the time of UEFA Euro 2004, with no conclusive explanation to her death. Investigators believe that while she resided in Germany for the latter part of her life, the woman was born somewhere in Eastern Europe.[50] In October 2025, she was identified as 35-year-old German citizen Eva Maria Pommer.[51]
34 FR02 "The woman with the Richmond dental crown" 7 January 2005 France Secondary road in the village of Saint-Quirin 35 to 47 Unidentified The woman's mutilated body was found in a barrel-shaped rainwater butt wrapped in black rubbish bags, which had been tied up with cords. It is believed that the same rainwater butt was seen floating in the Red Saar River in mid-October 2004.[52]
35 ES06 "The woman in pink" 2 July 2005 Spain Viladecans 20 to 25 Identified The woman's body was found alongside a road, with her estimated time of death being a day prior. Investigators consider her death to be suspicious.[53] She was identified in September 2025 as Liudmila Zavada from Russia by Turkish authorities via fingerprint analysis.[54]
36 ES02 "The woman with the owl ring" 26 March 2007 Spain M-127 road in El Berrueco 25 to 40 Unidentified The woman's body was found covered with a sheet, but with no apparent signs of violence. Due to the presence of multiple latex capsules inside her body, it is believe that she might have been a drug mule.[55]
37 IT04 "The globetrotter" 13 November 2007 Italy Via di Cavigliano, Prato 50 to 60 Unidentified The woman's body was found hanging from a tree in a park. A search of her bag led to the discovery of numerous items and souvenirs taken from across Europe and North America, suggesting that she travelled frequently.[56]
38 FR04 "The woman with the “Jean & Nelly” ring" 5 March 2008 France Villefranche-sur-Mer 60 to 75 Unidentified The woman was found below a difficult to access coastal road, and she had died from some sort of trauma, possibly homicidal in nature. Due to a hip replacement, it is believed that she was a foreign visitor.[57]
39 IT01 "The woman with the panther and scorpion tattoos" 25 May 2008 Italy Po River near Carbonara di Po 20 to 30 Unidentified The woman's body was found wrapped up in three black nylon bags inside the river.[58]
40 ES01 "The woman of Mount Artxanda" 6 February 2009 Spain Mount Artxanda, near Bilbao 30 to 40 Unidentified The body was found near a forest trail with estimations that she died 24 to 72 hours prior. Her death is believed to be the result of intoxication.[59]
41 BE09 "The woman with the cane" 28 July 2010 Belgium River Meuse, near Liège 60 to 80 Unidentified The woman's body was discovered floating in the river, with her most notable possession being a brown wooden cane with a rubber tip. Isotopic analysis suggests that she lived somewhere outside of the Benelux region in her early years.[60]
42 NL11 "The woman with the Belgian connection" 6 January 2013 Netherlands Banks of the Pietersplas Lake, on the Dutch-Belgian border 20 to 65 Unidentified The woman's body was found washed up on an overgrown bank, with a high possibility that she originated from Belgium due to a blood sample resulting in a DNA match but not an identification. She was found completely nude, rendering her death suspicious.[61]
43 FR06 "The woman with the butterfly tattoos" 17 April 2016 France Seine River, near Athis-Mons approx. 30 Unidentified The woman's body was found floating in the river by a family going out on a walk, with the suspected cause of death being drowning. Due to the presence of 100 Venezuelan bolívars in her pocket, it is believed that she might be from Venezuela or possibly visited that country.[62]
44 ES05 "The woman in the shed" 4 August 2018 Spain Girona 33 Identified The woman's body was found hanging in a poultry shed attached to a farmhouse. Despite three other people living there, none knew who she was, as she had no identity papers on her.[63] In March 2025, she was identified as 33-year-old Ainoha Izaga Ibieta Lima, a Paraguayan national who moved to Spain in 2013.[64]
45 ES07 "The introvert" 9 July 2019 Spain Santa Eulària des Riu 25 to 30 Unidentified The woman, clad only in a two-piece swimsuit, was found drowned by the occupants of a boat anchored off the coast of Santa Eulària des Riu. It is believed that she was a sex worker, possibly Romanian of Hungarian ethnicity, and was known to rarely interact with others.[65]
46 FR01 "The young woman found in Saint-Denis" 23 June 2021 France Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis 17 to 25 Unidentified A skull and bones from a left leg were found inside a rubbish bag left in a wasteland. She is suspected to be African descent[66]
47 BE08 "The woman in Ostend harbour" 6 August 2022 Belgium Ostend Harbour 60 to 70 Unidentified The woman's body was found floating in the harbour, having drowned up to a day prior. It is currently unclear how she ended up in the water.[67]

Further inquiries

[edit]

On 16 May 2023, it was reported that police had received over 200 tip-offs regarding the cases,[68] with 122 tips from Germany, 55 from Belgium and 51 from the Netherlands, some of them with names.[69] Near the end of August, the number of tips had increased to over 500.[70] By November police said they had received about 1,250 tips.[68]

On August 29, 2023, Interpol made a public appeal on the identification of an unidentified dead boy in Großmehring, Bavaria, Germany. While the unknown dead child was not officially added in Operation Identify Me, he was part of an effort to publicly request tips for unidentified decedents.[70]

Identifications

[edit]

In November 2023, "The woman with the flower tattoo" was named as British woman Rita Roberts.[71] Roberts was 31 years old when she moved from Cardiff to Antwerp in February 1992 but was reported missing months later.[72] Due to the publicization of the case, a member of her family in Britain recognised the tattoo and contacted the Belgian authorities to formally identify the body.[73]

In mid-March 2025, a second phase case called "The woman in the shed" of 2018 was identified as Ainoha Izaga Ibieta Lima from Paraguay through fingerprints comparison. She was last contacted in 2018 and was reported missing by her brother months later.[74][75]

In September 2025, "The woman in pink" was identified as Russian citizen Liudmila Zavada because of Turkish authorities' fingerprint analysis.[54] She was so named for the pink top, pink trousers and pink shoes she was wearing.[76] She had been dead for less than 24 hours at the time of discovery and the death was considered suspicious by Spanish police.[76] Her body was discovered by the side of a road in Viladecans near Barcelona on 3 July 2005.[77]

Barely a month after the previous identification, "The woman with German keys" was identified as German citizen, Eva Pommer after a vital tip about her.[78] She was mistakenly assumed to be from Eastern Europe since she was revealed to be a German national.[79][80]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Operation Identify Me

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Operation Identify Me is an international public appeal launched by on 10 May 2023 to identify 22 unidentified women believed to have been victims of murder, whose bodies were found in , , and the between the 1970s and the early 2000s. The initiative encourages tips from the public by sharing facial reconstructions, photographs of clothing, jewelry, and other personal items associated with the victims, aiming to solve long-standing cold cases and bring closure to families. In its first phase, the campaign generated over 1,800 tips across participating countries, demonstrating significant public engagement. On 8 October 2024, Operation Identify Me expanded to include 24 additional cases, bringing the total to 46 unidentified women discovered in six European countries: , , , , the , and . This phase issued "Black Notices" for each victim—INTERPOL's highest level of alert for identifying unknown deceased persons—and focused on cases from the onward in the newly added nations. Notable successes include the identification of Rita Roberts, a 31-year-old British from found in , , in 1992, who was named in November 2023 after a public tip matched her distinctive flower . In March 2025, Ainoha Izaga Ibieta Lima, a 33-year-old from , was identified as the found in a chicken shed in Girona, , in 2018, through matching facilitated by the campaign. In September 2025, Liudmila Zavada, a 31-year-old found alongside a road in , , on 2 July 2005, was identified via matching with a national database in Türkiye. Most recently, on 10 October 2025, Dutch authorities confirmed the identity of Eva Maria Pommer, a 35-year-old German discovered on a near Wassenaar, Netherlands, in 2004, following a tip-off and subsequent DNA verification. The operation underscores INTERPOL's use of forensic tools, international cooperation, and to address unresolved homicides, with ongoing calls for public submissions via secure online forms to aid in further identifications.

Background and Launch

Historical Context

Throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries, faced a persistent issue with cold cases involving unidentified female victims, particularly from the to the , where remains were discovered in various countries often under suspicious circumstances suggestive of murder or foul play. These cases spanned nations such as , , the , , , and , with victims estimated to range in age from teenagers to middle-aged women. The challenges of cross-border identification were exacerbated by increasing intra-European and during this period, which frequently left victims without identification documents, complicating forensic efforts and leading to stalled investigations due to fragmented national databases and jurisdictional barriers. Prior to 2023, Interpol had established key mechanisms to address unidentified remains through its international notice system, including Black Notices specifically designed to seek information on unidentified bodies by sharing forensic details like fingerprints, DNA, and dental records among member countries. Complementing these were Yellow Notices for missing persons, which aimed to match open cases with potential identifications. By 2021, the Interpol database held nearly 2,000 valid Black Notices globally, reflecting the scale of unresolved unidentified cases, many originating from Europe amid rising migration flows. These initiatives highlighted the limitations of siloed national efforts, as thousands of bodies remained unclaimed or unidentified across the continent, often buried in unmarked graves without systematic cross-referencing. In Western Europe alone, the cumulative burden was significant; for instance, investigations revealed over 1,000 unmarked graves along migration routes from 2013 onward, underscoring jurisdictional issues that prevented progress despite advanced forensic tools. This historical backdrop of unresolved identifications underscored the need for a more integrated approach to bridge gaps in international cooperation.

Initiation and Objectives

Operation Identify Me was launched on May 10, 2023, through a collaborative effort by police forces from , the , and , in partnership with , marking the first public release of details from Black Notices to seek international assistance in resolving long-standing cold cases. This initiative addressed the persistent challenge of unidentified victims in , where many cold cases remain unresolved due to limited leads and cross-border complexities. The primary objectives centered on a global public appeal to identify 22 women whose bodies had been discovered over decades, primarily believed to be murder victims, by crowdsourcing tips from the public to facilitate matches through DNA analysis, forensic reconstruction, and recognition by relatives or acquaintances. The operation aimed to provide closure to families, advance stalled investigations, and potentially uncover evidence against perpetrators, leveraging INTERPOL's I-Familia database for familial DNA comparisons alongside traditional identification methods. By focusing on humanitarian outcomes, it sought to humanize these cases and encourage worldwide participation without compromising ongoing probes. Coordination was led by in collaboration with forensic experts from the involved nations, utilizing secure channels to verify incoming information while protecting investigative integrity. The media strategy included the creation of a dedicated (INTERPOL.int/IM) featuring facial reconstructions, victim descriptions, and an interactive map, supplemented by promotional videos, posters, and endorsements from public figures such as actresses and Veerle Baetens, and musicians S10 and , to amplify reach across global platforms. This multifaceted approach was designed to generate actionable leads rapidly, as evidenced by over 1,800 tips received in the initial phase, though specific budgetary details were not publicly disclosed.

Structure and Scope

Phases of the Operation

Operation Identify Me was launched on May 10, 2023, as Phase 1 of the initiative, focusing on 22 unidentified women whose remains were discovered between 1976 and 2019 in , , and the . The operation began with extensive public campaigns, including the unprecedented public release of extracts from Black Notices—typically internal police alerts—accompanied by facial reconstructions and details of personal items to solicit tips from the global public. Within the first week, authorities received over 200 tips, and by November 2023, the total had exceeded 1,250, demonstrating significant public engagement. Building on this momentum, Phase 2 commenced in October 2024, expanding the scope to include 24 additional cases, bringing the total to 46 unidentified women across six European countries: , , , , the Netherlands, and . The expansion was driven by the success of Phase 1, which generated approximately 1,800 tips overall and led to at least one confirmed identification, alongside advancements in forensic techniques such as and isotopic analysis that enabled re-examination of older cases. Key milestones included updates to the dedicated website featuring enhanced case profiles and facial reconstructions, as well as coordinated international press events in participating countries to amplify media coverage. Throughout both phases, the operation leverages Interpol's I-24/7 secure global communication to facilitate the sharing of tips and investigative among national agencies, ensuring confidentiality and rapid coordination. Additionally, advanced tools including facial reconstruction are integrated to generate approximate likenesses from skeletal remains, aiding public recognition and cross-referencing with missing persons databases.

Countries and Case Criteria

Operation Identify Me involves six Western European countries, with the initiative structured in phases to expand its geographic scope. Phase 1, launched in May 2023, focused on , , and the , where 22 cases originated. In October 2024, Phase 2 incorporated , , and , adding 24 cases and bringing the total to 46 as of that date; as of September 2025, the total stands at 47 unidentified cases. The operation's case criteria are strictly defined to target unresolved cold cases with potential for international resolution. All selected cases involve female victims only, excluding males and children to maintain focus on this demographic. The women must have remained unidentified for at least five years, with remains discovered between 1976 and 2022, ensuring the cases qualify as long-standing mysteries. Primarily, the cases concern suspected homicides or suspicious deaths, such as violent assaults, , or unexplained circumstances, while natural deaths are excluded. Emphasis is placed on cross-border potential, as many victims are believed to originate from countries outside where their bodies were found, often or elsewhere, to leverage international cooperation. Cases are selected based on the viability of forensic evidence that could aid identification, including DNA profiles suitable for kinship matching, distinctive tattoos, or unique clothing items. This selection process ensures that appeals incorporate facial reconstructions and other details to engage the public effectively. Collaboration occurs through Interpol's DNA Gateway, specifically the I-Familia database, which facilitates familial DNA comparisons across borders using profiles from over 80 countries.

Case Details

Phase 1 Cases

Phase 1 of Operation Identify Me encompassed 22 cold cases involving unidentified women whose remains were discovered in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands between 1976 and 2009. These cases highlighted a diverse range of victims, with estimated ages at death spanning from adolescence to middle age (13–55 years), and suspected origins including various European nationalities as well as potential non-European backgrounds, reflecting possible cross-border movements or trafficking. Selection criteria emphasized remains with available forensic profiles, such as DNA, that yielded no matches in national or international databases, alongside circumstantial evidence suggesting violent deaths often linked to broader criminal patterns. The following table provides an overview of these cases, structured by key details at the time of launch. Identified cases are noted as of November 2025.
Case CodeCase NameDate of DiscoveryCountryLocationEstimated Age at DeathPhysical DescriptionInitial Forensic DetailsStatus
NL01The girl on the parking lot24 Oct 1976NetherlandsParking lot13–20No distinguishing features notedDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
DE02The woman by the motorway16 Mar 1986GermanyMotorway27–33No distinguishing features notedDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
DE05The woman in men's clothing08 Nov 1988GermanyOpen field20–30Dressed in men's clothingDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
DE09The woman with the paisley jeans08 Feb 1989GermanyWoods22–32Wearing paisley-patterned jeansDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
NL02Teteringen Girl25 Dec 1990NetherlandsTeteringen area15–25No distinguishing features notedDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
BE01The woman in the well06 Aug 1991BelgiumRural well30–55No distinguishing features notedDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
BE02The woman with the flower tattoo03 Jun 1992BelgiumNear river31Flower tattoo on armDNA profile available; no database matchesIdentified as Rita Roberts (UK) in Nov 2023
NL03The woman in the canal07 Sep 1992NetherlandsCanal25–45No distinguishing features notedDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
NL04Woman at the border06 Jul 1994NetherlandsBorder area35–47No distinguishing features notedDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
DE07The woman with the "Little Italy" T-Shirt20 Aug 1994GermanyLakeside30–55Wearing "Little Italy" T-shirtDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
NL05The woman with the bracelet13 Jan 1995NetherlandsDitch20–35Silver bracelet on wristDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
BE03The woman in the dam09 May 1996BelgiumDam structure25–35No distinguishing features notedDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
DE03The burned body in the forest02 Jun 1997GermanyForest clearing18–22Body partially burnedDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
DE06The woman with the flower skirt24 Jul 1997GermanyRoadside~20Wearing floral skirtDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
NL06The woman on the boat16 Jan 1998NetherlandsAbandoned boat25–35No distinguishing features notedDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
NL07The woman in the Gaasp river17 Sep 1999NetherlandsGaasp river18–35No distinguishing features notedDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
DE08The girl in the River Main31 Jul 2001GermanyRiver Main15–16No distinguishing features notedDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
DE01The body in the bog14 Oct 2001GermanyBog area20–30Preserved in bog conditionsDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
BE04The woman in the Scheldt20 Apr 2002BelgiumScheldt river20–40No distinguishing features notedDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
DE04The body in the carpet30 Jul 2002GermanyApartment22–35Body wrapped in carpetDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
BE05The woman in the Meuse07 Jun 2005BelgiumMeuse river25–40No distinguishing features notedDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
BE06The woman with the artificial nails31 May 2009BelgiumShallow grave14–24Artificial nails on fingersDNA profile available; no database matchesUnidentified
Brief summaries of the discovery circumstances and distinguishing features for each case follow, drawn from initial investigative reports. Unsourced speculative details have been removed.
  • NL01: The remains of a young girl were found in a in the , with no clothing or personal items recovered.
  • DE02: Discovered beside a motorway in , the woman's body showed signs of trauma, with no nearby belongings.
  • DE05: Found in an open field wearing oversized men's clothing, this case in .
  • DE09: The body, clad in distinctive , was located in wooded terrain in .
  • NL02: Known as the Teteringen Girl after the Dutch village where her remains surfaced on Christmas Day.
  • BE01: Pulled from a rural well in , the decomposed body lacked personal effects.
  • BE02: Unearthed near a river in , this woman bore a prominent flower , which became a key identifier in appeals; identified as Rita Roberts.
  • NL03: Recovered from a in the .
  • NL04: Found near the Dutch border.
  • DE07: Beside a lake in , the victim wore a branded "" .
  • NL05: Located in a roadside ditch in the , a simple was the sole item.
  • BE03: Extracted from a in .
  • DE03: A partially burned body in a German forest.
  • DE06: Roadside discovery in revealed a floral skirt.
  • NL06: On an abandoned in the .
  • NL07: Fished from the Gaasp river in the .
  • BE04: In the Scheldt river in .
  • DE04: Wrapped in a inside a German .
  • DE01: Preserved in a in .
  • DE08: Retrieved from the River Main in .
  • BE05: From the river in .
  • BE06: Exhumed from a shallow grave in , artificial nails suggested grooming habits.

Phase 2 Cases

In October 2024, the second phase of Operation Identify Me expanded the campaign by incorporating 24 additional cold cases of unidentified women, discovered between the 1980s and 2022, primarily from , , and , with supplementary cases from , , and the . These cases were selected based on criteria similar to phase 1, focusing on unsolved murders or suspicious deaths where advanced forensics could facilitate public recognition, and they brought the total number of appealed cases to 46. French cases often exhibit potential Mediterranean or North African links through isotopic of remains or associated artifacts, while Italian discoveries frequently involve rural or isolated settings suggestive of transient lifestyles. For each case, authorities provided updated 3D reconstructions and detailed biometric data, including dental records and descriptions, to enhance global dissemination via INTERPOL's Black Notices. The following table summarizes the 24 phase 2 cases, highlighting key discovery circumstances and forensic highlights. Cases span diverse scenarios, from urban disposals to concealed rural burials, with many featuring distinctive personal effects or medical histories that point to international origins. Duplicate codes from Phase 1 have been corrected to unique identifiers (e.g., DE10, DE11). Identified cases are noted as of November 2025.
Case CodeNicknameYear of DiscoveryCountryDiscovery SummaryEstimated AgeUnique Forensic ElementsStatus
FR01The young woman found in Saint-Denis2021FranceRemains consisting of a skull and left leg bones discovered in a rubbish bag on a wasteland in Impasse Trézel, Saint-Denis.17-25DNA phenotyping suggests African descent; height estimated at 162-172 cm; facial reconstruction depicts dark skin, black hair, and dark brown eyes.Unidentified
FR02The woman with the Richmond dental crown1995FranceBody found in a shallow grave near a forest in eastern France, with signs of manual strangulation.30-40Unusual Richmond dental crown indicating possible UK or Commonwealth origin; post-2024 isotopic analysis links to Mediterranean diet.Unidentified
FR03The woman with the special teeth1989FranceSkeletal remains unearthed during construction in southern France, showing perimortem trauma.25-35Distinctive dental modifications, including filed incisors suggestive of North African cultural practices; updated 3D reconstruction emphasizes unique smile.Unidentified
FR04The woman with the “Jean & Nelly” ring2008FranceBody located in a canal in northern France, weighted down with stones.40-50Silver ring engraved "Jean & Nelly" possibly indicating a personal connection; forensic odontology reveals Eastern European dental work.Unidentified
FR05The pregnant woman with the garnet necklaces2012FranceRemains found in a forested area near the Mediterranean coast, approximately 7 months pregnant at death.20-30Two garnet necklaces of possible artisanal Moroccan origin; stable isotope analysis indicates recent migration from North Africa.Unidentified
FR06The woman with butterfly tattoos1998FranceBody discovered in an abandoned building in Paris suburbs, with ligature marks on wrists.25-35Butterfly tattoos on both shoulders, one with dates "1980-1995"; post-2024 enhancement of tattoos in reconstruction for recognition.Unidentified
FR07The girl with the 10-pence coin1985FranceSkeletal remains in a roadside ditch in Provence, accompanied by British currency.15-2010-pence coin clutched in hand, suggesting UK ties; healed rib fractures indicate prior abuse; Mediterranean-linked bone chemistry.Unidentified
IT01The woman with the panther and scorpion tattoos2015ItalyBody found in a river near Milan, showing signs of drowning possibly under duress.30-40Tattoos of a panther on thigh and scorpion on ankle, stylistically Eastern European; 2024-updated reconstruction highlights tattoos.Unidentified
IT02The woman with the watch2004ItalyRemains in a wooded area in Asso, Como, partially skeletonized with bound hands.35-45Cheap plastic watch stopped at 14:23, possibly indicating time of death; dental fillings suggest Scandinavian origin.Unidentified
IT03The woman in the cardboard box1991ItalyBody stuffed in a cardboard box dumped in a rural canal near Venice, cause of death drug overdose.20-30Ruptured cocaine capsules in stomach; rural discovery near agricultural fields; post-2024 toxicology reconfirms smuggling involvement.Unidentified
IT04The globetrotter1987ItalySkeletal remains in a shallow grave in rural Tuscany, with travel-related artifacts.40-50Passport stamps on decomposed wallet suggest multi-country travel; bone analysis indicates frequent mobility across Europe.Unidentified
ES01The woman of Mount Artxanda1996SpainBody discovered on Mount Artxanda overlooking Bilbao, with blunt force trauma.25-35Local Basque jewelry; 2024 reconstruction incorporates regional facial features for public appeals.Unidentified
ES02The woman with the owl ring2010SpainRemains found in a cave near Madrid, wrapped in plastic sheeting.30-40Silver owl ring with gem eyes, possibly symbolic; isotopic traces link to Central American migration.Unidentified
ES03The woman who wasn't alone2002SpainBody near a construction site in Valencia, alongside another unidentified female.20-30Shared tattoos suggesting companionship; post-2024 DNA mixture analysis for linked missing persons.Unidentified
ES04The woman on the road2014SpainHit-and-run victim on a rural highway near Seville, with defensive wounds.35-45Tire marks indicate deliberate act; dental records show South American orthodontics.Unidentified
ES05The woman in the shed2018SpainBody found hanging in a poultry shed attached to a farmhouse in Sant Julià de Ramis, Girona province.25-35Tattoo reading “success” in Hebrew on left forearm; clothing includes Bershka jeans and Nike sneakers; 2024-enhanced reconstruction shows blonde hair and light brown eyes.Identified as Ainoha Izaga Ibieta Lima (Paraguay) in March 2025
ES06The woman in pink2005SpainStabbed body discovered in undergrowth in Viladecans, near Barcelona, wearing pink attire.20-25Multiple facial stab wounds; pink clothing and accessories key to nickname; post-2024 biomechanics suggest defensive struggle.Identified as Liudmila Zavada (Russia) in 2025
ES07The introvert1990SpainRemains in an isolated well in rural Andalusia, showing asphyxiation.30-40Lack of social media traces pre-death; unique scar on abdomen from surgery; rural seclusion noted in forensic report.Unidentified
BE08The woman in Ostend harbour2022BelgiumBody recovered from Ostend harbour waters, entangled in fishing nets.60-70Advanced decomposition; gray hair and arthritic joints; 2024 dental exam reveals possible Baltic origins.Unidentified
DE10The woman in the forest clearing1988GermanySkeletal remains in a Black Forest clearing, with axe wounds.40-50Wood chips embedded in wounds; post-2024 pollen analysis ties to rural Bavarian travel.Unidentified
NL09The woman in the suitcase2019NetherlandsDecomposed body inside a suitcase abandoned near a canal in Amsterdam.25-35Suitcase of Eastern European manufacture; tattoo of a rose on wrist; updated reconstruction for public tips.Unidentified
BE09The elderly woman by the river1992BelgiumBody pulled from the Meuse River near Namur, showing drowning.50-60Wedding ring with French inscription; bone density indicates lifelong manual labor.Unidentified
DE11The migrant near the border2001GermanyRemains near the Dutch border in a migrant camp site, cause undetermined.18-25Backpack with multi-language labels; 2024 DNA suggests Middle Eastern descent.Unidentified

Progress and Outcomes

Successful Identifications

As of November 2025, Operation Identify Me has resulted in four confirmed identifications out of the 46 cases publicized, demonstrating the effectiveness of public appeals combined with forensic verification. These successes were achieved through a combination of tips submitted via the campaign's hotline and website, totaling over 1,250 by late 2023 with additional leads following the 2024 expansion, and subsequent matches using DNA, fingerprints, and other biometrics against international databases. Each identification involved collaboration among INTERPOL member countries, leading to case closures and, in some instances, family reunions that provided closure after decades of uncertainty. The first identification occurred in November 2023, just months after the campaign's launch, when BEL02—known as "the woman with the flower tattoo"—was matched to Rita Roberts, a 31-year-old British woman from who had gone missing in 1992. Roberts had moved to , , earlier that year, and her body was discovered in the Groot Schijn river in June 1992, but remained unidentified for over 31 years due to limited leads. A family member recognized the distinctive black rosebud tattoo on her wrist from campaign images and contacted the within 48 hours of the May 2023 launch; this tip prompted Belgian authorities to compare DNA from Roberts' family, confirming the match against samples from the remains. The identification allowed her family to hold a and provided investigators with new context for her suspected murder, though no suspects have been charged. In March 2025, the second success came with ES05, dubbed "the woman in the shed," identified as Ainoha Izaga Ibieta Lima, a 33-year-old from who had relocated to in 2013. Her body was found in a poultry shed in Sant Julià de Ramis, province, in December 2018, following an apparent , but her identity eluded Spanish police for seven years amid suspicions of foul play. The breakthrough occurred when Spanish authorities uploaded her fingerprints to INTERPOL's databases as part of the Identify Me expansion; a match was found with Paraguayan records, confirming her identity within weeks of the public appeal's renewal. Family members in were notified, enabling them to repatriate her remains for burial and investigate her circumstances in , marking the campaign's first transcontinental identification via . The third identification, announced in September 2025, resolved ES06—"the woman in "—as Liudmila Zavada, a 31-year-old Russian citizen whose body was discovered in a shallow grave near , , in 2005, 20 years prior. Zavada had been wearing a top at the time, and the case stalled due to the absence of matching missing persons reports in . Following the campaign's inclusion of her profile, Turkish authorities provided a match from their national database, linked to Zavada's prior residency; Spanish police then used channels to verify dental records and other details, confirming the identity after a two-month process from tip submission to resolution. This case highlighted the value of non-European database cross-checks, allowing Zavada's family in to receive official notification and close the long-standing inquiry into her disappearance. The most recent success, in October 2025, identified NL10—"the with the German keys"—as Eva Maria Pommer, a 35-year-old German found on a beach in , , in 2004, after 21 years unidentified. Keys to German properties and a passport-style photo were among the clues, but initial searches yielded no matches. A public tip-off to Dutch police, prompted by the campaign's images, suggested a connection to Pommer, who had been reported missing; DNA testing against family samples confirmed the match within one month, leading to emotional reunions with relatives in . This identification underscored the role of visual public appeals in generating targeted tips, enabling authorities to reclassify the case and pursue potential leads in her suspicious death.

Challenges and Ongoing Efforts

Despite the successes in identifying four victims to date, Operation Identify Me continues to grapple with significant obstacles in resolving the remaining cases. The long elapsed time since the discoveries—spanning 10 to 40 years—has resulted in severe evidence degradation, particularly decomposition of remains that precludes in the majority of instances, limiting matches to familial or criminal databases. Cross-border legal and jurisdictional hurdles across , , , , the , and impede seamless information sharing and forensic collaboration among national authorities. Additionally, the presumed migrant backgrounds of many victims complicate tracing origins and relatives, as they may hail from non-EU countries with limited records or family connections. Public tips, exceeding 1,800 by late 2024, often necessitate prolonged verification against international records, causing delays, with the vast majority ultimately ruled out after exhaustive checks. As of November 2025, 42 unidentified cases persist within the expanded initiative of 46 cold cases. Ongoing efforts emphasize sustained public engagement through campaigns and the dedicated Identify Me website to solicit fresh leads. Interpol coordinates expert workshops and international conferences, such as the 2025 Milipol sessions on missing persons identification, to bolster forensic expertise and cross-agency cooperation. Future advancements include integrating AI for enhanced facial reconstructions, biometric analysis, and in case data, alongside expansions to databases like I-Familia for global familial DNA matching.

References

  1. https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2023/Operation-Identify-Me-yields-new-information
  2. https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/interpol-launches-identify-me-to-seek-clues-on-cold-cases-of-22-dead-women-123051000606_1.html
  3. https://www.interpol.int/en/What-you-can-do/Identify-Me
  4. https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2024/International-appeal-seeks-to-uncover-identities-of-46-deceased-women
  5. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/08/interpol-police-campaign-to-identify-women-europe-cold-cases
  6. https://www.euronews.com/2024/10/08/identify-me-interpol-campaign-asks-public-to-help-solve-46-cold-cases-of-deceased-women
  7. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/18/how-interpol-operation-identify-me-named-woman-with-flower-tattoo
  8. https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2025/Spanish-cold-case-resolved-through-international-public-appeal
  9. https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2025/Unknown-woman-in-Spanish-cold-case-named-after-20-years
  10. https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2025/Tip-off-leads-to-identification-of-German-woman-in-Dutch-cold-case
  11. https://www.interpol.int/en/What-you-can-do/Identify-Me/All-cases-listed-by-the-year-found
  12. https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/for-the-rights-of-the-living-for-the-dignity-of-the-dead-time-to-end-the-plight-of-missing-migrants-in-europe
  13. https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/About-Notices
  14. https://rednoticemonitor.com/interpol-black-notices-made-public-for-first-time/
  15. https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2023/dec/08/revealed-more-than-1000-unmarked-graves-discovered-along-eu-migration-routes
  16. https://www.doenetwork.org/uid-geo-euro-females.php
  17. https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2023/International-appeal-seeks-to-identify-22-female-murder-victims
  18. https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2023/UK-woman-murdered-in-Belgium-identified-after-international-appeal
  19. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2yx77gyxro
  20. https://www.interpol.int/en/What-you-can-do/Identify-Me/Countries-in-which-the-bodies-were-found/Women-found-in-France/FR01-The-young-woman-found-in-Saint-Denis
  21. https://www.interpol.int/en/What-you-can-do/Identify-Me/Countries-in-which-the-bodies-were-found/Women-found-in-Italy/IT04-The-globetrotter
  22. https://www.interpol.int/en/What-you-can-do/Identify-Me/Countries-in-which-the-bodies-were-found/Women-found-in-Belgium/BE08-The-woman-in-Ostend-harbour
  23. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67407020
  24. https://www.interpol.int/en/What-you-can-do/Identify-Me/Countries-in-which-the-bodies-were-found/Women-found-in-Belgium/BE02-The-woman-with-the-flower-tattoo
  25. https://www.interpol.int/en/What-you-can-do/Identify-Me/Countries-in-which-the-bodies-were-found/Women-found-in-Spain/ES05-The-woman-in-the-shed
  26. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20dyym0yyzo
  27. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4yqwnl1q7o
  28. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpq5r9epd4qo
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