Breakthrough in longstanding Dutch missing person case

LYON, France - The remains of Dutch national Angelique Hendrix, who disappeared in 1990, have been identified after an international DNA match was made via INTERPOL.

In 1991, Belgian authorities found unidentified human remains in Maasmechelen, just across the border from Angelique's home in Stein, Netherlands.

The case remained unsolved until a recent change in Belgium's legislation allowed its DNA profiles to be shared with INTERPOL's I-Familia database. It contains DNA data from biological relatives of missing persons.

Dutch authorities had previously shared DNA data from Angelique's family with I-Familia, which led to the match when Belgian authorities submitted DNA data from the human remains to INTERPOL.

Further research and collaboration involving Belgium and the Netherlands confirmed Angelique's identification.

Created and managed by INTERPOL, the I-Familia database relies on voluntary DNA submissions from family members of missing persons. The database is used to compare DNA profiles with those from unidentified deceased persons and international missing persons cases.

This case represents the first I-Familia match for both Belgium and the Netherlands since the database was launched in 2021. I-Familia contains more than 21,000 DNA profiles from 78 countries and is used exclusively for solving missing persons cases. It is not connected to INTERPOL's criminal databases.

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

"The major breakthrough in Angelique's identification was thanks to the efforts of Belgian and Dutch law enforcement and the crucial role of I-Familia in providing answers to families of missing persons.

"For missing persons cases, international cooperation plays a vital role in enabling investigators to put together the various pieces of the puzzle surrounding a person's disappearance."

The I-Familia database is also an important part of the separate Identify Me international appeal launched earlier this week, which seeks the public's help in uncovering the identities of unknown deceased women found across six European countries.

Members of the public with any information on the circumstances of Angelique's disappearance can contact the Dutch police via www.politie.nl/angelique.