Arrest Made In 20-year-old Cold Case In France

PARIS, April 29 (Bernama-dpa) -- More than twenty years after her violent death, a victim has been identified in France and a suspect arrested, Interpol said on Tuesday, German news agency dpa reported.

Interpol, the world’s largest police organisation, helped solve the cold case.

The body of the woman was found in early 2005 inside a rainwater barrel in the French village of Saint-Quirin, a few dozen kilometres from the German border.

It had been mutilated, packed into garbage bags and tied up with ropes.

For over two decades, the woman’s identity remained unknown. 

The case was later included in Interpol’s “Identify Me” campaign, which seeks public help in identifying more than 40 unidentified women found across Europe.

Now the woman’s identity has been established, and for the first time since the campaign began, which focuses on long-unsolved murders of women, a suspect has been arrested.

German, Belgian, Dutch, Italian, French and Spanish police are also participating in the “Identify Me” campaign. 

According to Interpol, most of the women being sought were murdered or died under suspicious or unexplained circumstances. Nine of them were found in Germany.

On the campaign website, Interpol has published facial reconstructions as well as images of jewellery and clothing found on the women.

Authorities have since been able to identify five of the bodies. In the remaining cases, Interpol continues to ask for tips.

--BERNAMA-dpa