DNA often leads to new leads in serious crimes. Nevertheless, after extensive DNA research, no suspect has been found in a major rape case in the vicinity of Valkenswaard, Veldhoven and Waalre. This brings the case of the serial rapist who struck twelve times between 1989 and 2010 to the pile of cold cases. Here is an overview of the most famous cases.
Nicole van den Hurk from Eindhoven
The murder of Nicole van den Hurk is one of the most famous cold cases in our province. The 15-year-old girl from Eindhoven disappeared in the early morning of October 6, 1995. Her body was found a month and a half later in the woods between Mierlo and Lierop. The police launched an investigation that lasted for years. Crime reporter Peter R. de Vries has followed the case for a long time.
In 2014, Helmonder Jos de G. came into the picture through a DNA match. He would have dragged Nicole off the bike and raped her in the reed beds, then killed her. A year after the arrest, G. was sentenced to 12 years in prison for rape and manslaughter.
Jessica Richel from Etten-Leur
The body of 18-year-old Jessica Richel was found on June 12, 1991 in a ditch near the garbage dump in Bergen op Zoom. The student had a cut on her neck and two plastic bags over her head. She had died of suffocation. Once again, Peter R. de Vries stuck in the business, until 2003.
Through DNA research, the police found a 38-year-old man from Hoeven. He was an old acquaintance of Jessica’s, who stated that he had had sex with her. On that evening, according to him, a man dressed as a collector stormed into the house. The collector would have killed Jessica and the 38-year-old man would have hidden her body out of panic.
The court had other evidence and the man from Hoeven was sentenced to 12 years in prison. This ended the years of drama for the family, in which even Jessica’s stepfather and half-brother were considered suspects for some time.
Many cases unsolved
Practice shows that most cold cases remain unsolved. There are more than 1700 cold cases nationwide. Dozens have been solved in the past 20 years.
Recently appeared a podcast of the Public Prosecution Service about the oldest missing person case in our province, that of 19-year-old Germa van den Boom. She disappeared from her parental home in Nieuwendijk in 1984. No body was ever found.
This is also the case in the unsolved murder of Wies Hensen from Budel in 1989. Previously, money was also collected for the golden tip in the missing case of Tanja Groen. The 18-year-old student disappeared in 1993. After an investigation by a cold case team, the Strabrechtse Heide was searched several times. Both cases have yielded nothing to this day.
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