British Murder Victim Known as “The Woman with the Flower Tattoo” Finally Identified After Three Decades as 31-Year-Old Rita Roberts

Accident – Death – Obituary News : **A Murder Victim Known as the “Woman with the Flower Tattoo” Finally Identified as British 31-Year-Old after Three Decades, Killer Still at Large**

Antwerp, Belgium – After three decades of remaining nameless, the murder victim known as the “Woman with the Flower Tattoo” has finally been identified as Rita Roberts, a British 31-year-old woman. In 1992, Roberts was violently killed before her body was dumped in the Groot Schijn river in Antwerp. Belgian authorities are now calling on the public to come forward with any information they may have as they continue to search for her killer.

Roberts had moved to Antwerp from Cardiff in February of 1992, and her family last heard from her when they received a postcard in May of that year. On June 3, her body was discovered floating against the grate of a water treatment plant in the Groot Schijn river. Detectives believe her body had been in the water for quite some time.

At the time of her death, Roberts was wearing distinctive neon sports clothes, and her most striking physical feature was a flower tattoo on her left forearm. The tattoo depicted a black flower with green leaves, and underneath it read “R’Nick.” These details, along with a description of her physical appearance, were released by authorities in a plea to uncover her identity earlier this year.

Belgian, Dutch, and German police collaborated with INTERPOL in a groundbreaking operation called “Identify Me.” The operation aimed to identify 22 women believed to have been murdered. It marked the first time that INTERPOL made public certain details of Black Notices, which contain crucial information about unidentified bodies.

It was a family member in the UK who recognized Rita’s tattoo on the news and contacted both INTERPOL and Belgian authorities online. The family then traveled to Belgium to meet with investigators and formally identified Rita Roberts as their beloved sister. In a statement, they expressed their shock and heartbreak over Rita’s cruel fate.

The family said, “Our passionate, loving, and free-spirited sister was cruelly taken away. There are no words to truly express the grief we felt at that time, and still feel today. While the news has been difficult to process, we are incredibly grateful to have uncovered what happened to Rita.”

Rita’s body was found near Antwerp’s Sportpaleis events hall, a busy area in the Deurne district of the city. The river where her body was discovered runs alongside the A1 motorway and flows from the Provinciaal Groendomein Rivierenhof towards a water pumping station.

Belgian authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information that may lead to the arrest of Rita’s killer. Operation Identify Me has already received over 500 messages and tips from the public, highlighting the vital need for cross-border collaboration in solving cold cases.

Secretary General Jürgen Stock of INTERPOL praised the authorities in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands for their leadership in Operation Identify Me. He emphasized the importance of connecting police worldwide, especially in cases involving missing persons.

As the investigation into Rita Roberts’ murder continues, her family remains grateful for the support they have received from Belgium Missing Persons, Antwerp Police, INTERPOL, and Durham Police in the UK. They remember Rita as a beautiful person who loved traveling and adored her family.

The family said, “She had the ability to light up a room, and wherever she went, she was the life and soul of the party. We hope that wherever she is now, she is at peace.”

Members of the public are urged to visit the Identify Me portal on the INTERPOL website if they recognize anyone from the operation. The campaign aims to bring closure to families and justice for the victims of unsolved cases, emphasizing the importance of global collaboration in solving crimes and finding missing persons..