British National, Rita Roberts, Identified as Victim Found 31 Years Ago in Antwerp

Accident – Death – Obituary News : A 31-year-old mystery has finally been solved as Belgian authorities identified a woman’s body found in Antwerp as that of British national Rita Roberts. This breakthrough came after police launched Operation Identify Me, an initiative aimed at identifying 22 women who were murdered in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany over the past five decades.

The case of “the woman with the flower tattoo,” as Roberts came to be known, dates back to June 3, 1992, when her body was discovered in the water of the Groot Schijn River in the Deurne district of Antwerp. Despite efforts to identify her at the time, her true identity remained unknown.

Described as a light-skinned woman with dark hair, aged between 20 and 50, the most distinctive feature on her body was a tattoo of a black flower with green leaves on her left forearm, accompanied by the name “R’Nick.” It was this tattoo that ultimately led to her identification after a member of her family recognized it and reached out to Interpol through the Identify Me website.

According to Interpol, Roberts had moved to Antwerp from Cardiff in February 1992 when she was 31 years old. The last communication her family received from her was a postcard in May of that year. After her family traveled to Belgium and formally identified her, the Antwerp family court amended her death certificate to reflect her true identity.

In a statement, Roberts’s family expressed their shock and heartbreak upon receiving the news. They described her as a passionate, loving, and free-spirited individual who adored traveling and had a deep love for her family, especially her nephews and nieces. They emphasized her ability to light up a room and be the life and soul of any party. The family expressed gratitude for the cross-border collaboration that finally gave their missing relative her identity back and brought some closure to their grief.

Jürgen Stock, Interpol’s secretary general, highlighted the importance of such cases, as they underscore the need for global police connections, particularly when missing persons are involved. He described Operation Identify Me as important work that has provided closure to a family after 31 long years.

Belgian authorities have now issued an appeal to the public for any information related to Roberts or the circumstances surrounding her death. The information can be submitted through a form on Interpol’s website, which also features facial reconstructions and images of recognizable items, such as jewelry and clothing, found at the crime scenes.

Operation Identify Me is groundbreaking in that it marks the first time that information from Interpol black notices, typically restricted to law enforcement agencies, has been made public. These notices contain crucial details about the crime scenes, the victims’ appearances, their clothing, and other relevant observations.

The identification of Rita Roberts brings hope that the remaining 21 women who lost their lives in similar circumstances may also be identified and given the justice they deserve. The collaboration between Belgian, Dutch, and German police, along with Interpol, demonstrates the power of international cooperation in solving cold cases and bringing closure to grieving families..