Netherlands: Police hope to solve 15-year-old murder using… hologram

To try to solve the unsolved murder of Bernadette “Betty” Szabó, which occurred 15 years ago when she was 19, the Amsterdam police are using a unique method: a life-size hologram of the young woman.

15 years ago, Betty Szabó, a 19-year-old sex worker, was murdered in Amsterdam’s notorious red light district. Despite the years, the police have not identified his murderer.

Born in 1990 in Hungary, Betty arrived in Amsterdam at age 18 and quickly began working as a sex worker. Becoming a mother shortly after, her son was placed in foster care “much to her despair,” according to authorities.

Only eight days after giving birth, Betty resumed her professional activity in her studio. On the night of February 19, 2009, two of his colleagues noticed his absence, as well as the unusual silence in his space. Shortly after 1 a.m., they discovered his body. Betty was lying in a pool of blood and had been stabbed multiple times.

The case remains unresolved. A corner house in Korte Stormsteeg and Oudezijds Achterburgwal pays homage to Betty, with windows and screens projecting images of the investigation and the crime.

Recently, there has also been a life-size hologram of Betty. Sitting on a stool, she displays her dragon tattoos on her chest and wears short jeans with a black top with yellow patterns. This device, although not exactly resembling Betty out of consideration for those close to her, invites passersby to provide information.

“This is the first time we have done something like this and, to be honest, we are a little nervous,” says Benjamin van Gogh, coordinator of the investigations in Amsterdam. The objective is to obtain some form of justice for Betty by finding her murderer.

30,000 euros reward

Investigators hope the hologram will help them solve the case. A reward of 30,000 euros is even offered to anyone providing information.

Anne Dreijer-Heemskerk from the Cold Case team also weighs in on the case: “Betty was murdered in one of the busiest neighborhoods in Amsterdam, maybe even the Netherlands.” According to her, it is almost impossible that no one saw, heard or noticed anything unusual at that time.