Last night started a new series of without a trace, 1.4 million people watched the first episode. “We see no reason to stop the current season,” said a spokesperson. Following the unveiling of Van der Spek, KRO-NCRV off sixteen cases without a trace to investigate. The broadcaster can now confirm two ‘mismatches’ of Dutch people who are not linked to the correct biological parents in Colombia. The program teams up with a Colombian fixer whose integrity is in question. Van der Spek will look for that fixer, named Edwin Vela, in his broadcast this evening.
Two other matches have since been confirmed by DNA testing. “We will again examine the other twelve cases and, if desired and possible, offer those involved a DNA test,” said KRO-NCRV.
Since 2019, the broadcaster has been doing ‘a DNA test as standard in all searches’. Van der Spek has been doing this for much longer and wonders why this has not happened before. KRO-NCRV now declares about this: “Since 2000 test without a trace on DNA. In the beginning a few times a year in case of doubt, in the course of time more and more often. From 2019, we will always test for DNA. Previously, DNA testing was still a very time-consuming process that was mainly used in forensic investigations.”
Over the years, DNA testing became more accessible to consumers and without a trace testing more frequently. We can now often test with cheek mucus instead of blood. The latter, for example, was not considered desirable by mothers in many South American and Asian countries. DNA samples often got stranded at customs and didn’t even make it out of the country. Since 2019, the DNA has been tested as standard in all cases.”
Tonight (RTL 5, 8.30 pm) is the episode of Scammers tackled in which Kees van der Spek elaborates on the revelations surrounding Without a trace.
Also listen to the AD Media Podcast with this week Angela de Jong’s reaction to the much-discussed scene in Five Live, the panel disagrees about Wietze de Jager’s parental leave and Rampvlucht is discussed. Listen below or subscribe via Spotify or iTunes.
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