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For The First Time Police Use Life-Size Hologram To Try To Solve 15-Year-Old Homicide Cold Case
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For The First Time Police Use Life-Size Hologram To Try To Solve 15-Year-Old Homicide Cold Case

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For the first time, police in the Netherlands are attempting to solve a homicide cold case by using a life-size hologram of the victim. 

Bernadett “Betty” Szabo was brutally murdered on February 19, 2009. Fifteen years later, her case still leads to a dead end.

Those who pass by the visualization will see the victim sitting on a stool before leaning forward and asking the passerby for help.

Highlights
  • Police in Netherlands are using a life-size hologram to solve a 2009 cold case murder.
  • Victim Betty Szabo, 19, was murdered 3 months after childbirth.
  • Authorities encourage witnesses to come forward with a €30,000 reward.
RELATED:

    Authorities in the Netherlands are trying to find the killer of a murdered woman using her life-sized hologram

    Image credits: Stefano Guidi/Getty Images

    Projected in Amsterdam’s red-light district, Betty—dressed in a leopard-print bra and faded denim shorts, with a tattoo covering her mid-section—reaches out to anyone walking by and breathes on the window pane she’s trapped behind to write one word: “Help.”

    Police are hoping it’ll jog people’s memories of the 19-year-old who was stabbed numerous times, just three months after she had given birth.

    According to Sky News, authorities say they launched a “major investigation” after her body was discovered, checking CCTV footage and asking witnesses—to no avail.

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    Image credits: DW

    Anne Dreijer-Heemskerk, a justice and cold case detective, hopes to break that cycle.

    “A young woman, only 19, taken from life in such a horrific way,” she said.

    The family of the victim has given their “approval and faith” to start the investigation.

    Szabo had lived a turbulent life and had a history of hardship and resilience, according to detectives

    Image credits: DW

    Originally from Hungary, Szabo moved to Amsterdam when she was 18 years old, eventually working in the city’s red-light district. 

    She continued to work throughout her pregnancy and returned shortly after her son’s birth.

    As reported by BBC, two sex workers went to check on the 19-year-old in the early hours of February 19, when they noticed her usual music not playing.

    Upon entering the brothel, they discovered Szabo lying in a pool of blood.

    Image credits: DW

    Dreijer-Heemskerk said, “Betty was murdered in one of Amsterdam’s busiest spots, perhaps even one of the busiest in the Netherlands.

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    “It’s hard to believe that no one saw or heard anything unusual back then. People might have even talked about it elsewhere.”

    Police now believe the murderer may have come from abroad.

    Eline Roovers, spokesperson for the Dutch Police, told Sky News, “Research shows that people who commit a crime like this usually tell multiple people, 2.2 persons to be exact, about what they have done.”

    Image credits: DW

    “This means that there must be people that know more about Betty’s death. Mutual relationships might have changed. This might now result in people to be more willing and open to talk about what they know or have heard.”

    A ​​€30,000 (~ $31,950 USD) reward has been offered to anyone who can provide more information on the case. 

    Some commenters hope the teenage mother gets the justice she deserves, while others are skeptical about this new method

    Image credits: nilofalvarado

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    Image credits: patrick1386

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    Michelle Tian

    Michelle Tian

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    Hi, there! I'm a newswriter at Bored Panda, born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. I have a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University, as well as a philosophy minor. A few of my other hobbies include dancing, reading, cooking, or listening to a true crime podcast. My favourite thing to report on includes groundbreaking news in the field of science — particularly marine biology! I definitely didn't do well very well studying it in school, but being a journalist lets me live out those dreams in a different and exciting way!

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    Michelle Tian

    Michelle Tian

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Hi, there! I'm a newswriter at Bored Panda, born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. I have a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University, as well as a philosophy minor. A few of my other hobbies include dancing, reading, cooking, or listening to a true crime podcast. My favourite thing to report on includes groundbreaking news in the field of science — particularly marine biology! I definitely didn't do well very well studying it in school, but being a journalist lets me live out those dreams in a different and exciting way!

    Donata Leskauskaite

    Donata Leskauskaite

    Author, BoredPanda staff

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    Hey there! I'm a Visual Editor in News team. My responsibility is to ensure that you can read the story not just through text, but also through photos. I get to work with a variety of topics ranging from celebrity drama to mind-blowing Nasa cosmic news. And let me tell you, that's what makes this job an absolute blast! Outside of work, you can find me sweating it out in dance classes or unleashing my creativity by drawing and creating digital paintings of different characters that lives in my head. I also love spending time outdoors and play board games with my friends.

    Read less »

    Donata Leskauskaite

    Donata Leskauskaite

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Hey there! I'm a Visual Editor in News team. My responsibility is to ensure that you can read the story not just through text, but also through photos. I get to work with a variety of topics ranging from celebrity drama to mind-blowing Nasa cosmic news. And let me tell you, that's what makes this job an absolute blast! Outside of work, you can find me sweating it out in dance classes or unleashing my creativity by drawing and creating digital paintings of different characters that lives in my head. I also love spending time outdoors and play board games with my friends.

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    Lilliarna BALL
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    how heartbreakingIt's truly how heartbreaking it is to witness moments of loss and sorrow that affect us so deeply. The weight of grief can often feel unbearable, as it touches our hearts and souls in ways we never expected. Whether it's the end of a cherished relationship, the passing of a loved one, or the realization that dreams may remain unfulfilled, the emotional toll can be profound. Each moment of heartbreak not only reveals our vulnerabilities but also reminds us of the strength we possess to endure and heal. Life is filled with both joy and heartache, and navigating these experiences shapes who we are and how we connect with others.

    Lilliarna BALL
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    how heartbreakingIt's truly how heartbreaking it is to witness moments of loss and sorrow that affect us so deeply. The weight of grief can often feel unbearable, as it touches our hearts and souls in ways we never expected. Whether it's the end of a cherished relationship, the passing of a loved one, or the realization that dreams may remain unfulfilled, the emotional toll can be profound. Each moment of heartbreak not only reveals our vulnerabilities but also reminds us of the strength we possess to endure and heal. Life is filled with both joy and heartache, and navigating these experiences shapes who we are and how we connect with others.

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