A murder victim known only as “the woman with the flower tattoo” has finally been identified as a 31-year-old British woman after three decades, as the hunt for her killer continues.
Rita Roberts was violently killed before her body was thrown into a river in Antwerp, Belgium in 1992.
She had moved from Cardiff to Antwerp in February this year and the last time her family heard from her was when she received a postcard in May.
On June 3, her body was discovered floating against the grate of a water treatment plant in the Groot Schijn river near Ten Eekhovelei. Investigators suspected she may have been in the water for some time.
She wore distinctive neon-colored sportswear and her most noticeable physical feature was a floral tattoo on her left forearm that featured a black flower with green leaves and the words “R’Nick” underneath.
She remained nameless for three decades until an international effort to identify her was launched this year, allowing her tormented family to finally say goodbye.
Rita Roberts had moved from Cardiff to Antwerp in February 1992 and her family last heard from her in May of that year when she received a postcard
The 31-year-old’s most striking physical feature was a flower tattoo on her left forearm, a black flower with green leaves and the words “R’Nick” underneath
On June 3, Rita’s body was discovered floating on a grate at a water treatment plant in the Groot Schijn river
Rita’s body was found near the Sportpaleis event hall in Antwerp, in a busy residential and shopping area in the Deurne district.
The river, which runs along the A1 motorway, flows from the Provinciaal Groendomein Rivierenhof to a water pumping station.
When an appeal to reveal her identity was first launched this year, investigators described her as being between 20 and 50 years old, around 1.70 meters tall and of strong build.
She had light skin and medium-length dark hair and was wearing a T-shirt and dark blue Adidas track pants.
Now that she has been identified, Belgian authorities are calling on the public to disclose any information they have as they continue to search for her killer.
An international appeal was launched in May this year, with Belgian, Dutch and German police working with INTERPOL to try to identify 22 women believed to have been murdered.
The groundbreaking Operation Identify Me marks the first time that INTERPOL has released some details of Black Notices that pass on vital information about unidentified bodies.
While the identities of many victims are still unknown, a family member in Britain recognized Rita’s tattoo in the news, came forward and contacted the International Criminal Police Organization and Belgian authorities online.
The family then traveled to Belgium to meet with investigators and officially identified Rita.
“The news was shocking and heartbreaking,” it said in a statement. “Our passionate, loving and free-spirited sister was cruelly taken away.
“There are no words to truly express the grief we felt then and still feel today.
“Although it was difficult to process the news, we are incredibly grateful to have found out what happened to Rita.”
Her body was found near the Sportpaleis event hall in Antwerp, which is close to a highway, a park and a busy residential and shopping area
Rita had been wearing flashy sportswear and neon trainers when she was found dead
The family said that while they continue to miss Rita greatly, they are grateful for the support of the Belgian Missing Persons Unit, Antwerp Police, INTERPOL and Durham Police in the UK.
What are Black Notices?
Black Notices are used by INTERPOL to uncover information about unidentified bodies.
They ask for help in determining the circumstances of a death and usually share important information, such as the rose tattoo on Rita Roberts’ body.
This can include information about where the body was found, biometric information such as DNA, fingerprints, facial images, dental charts, physical descriptions of the body or clothing, and a range of other details.
Operation Identify Me, launched in May this year, is the first time that INTERPOL has released some details of Black Notices.
“This cross-border collaboration has given a missing girl her identity back and allowed the family to know she is at peace,” they said.
“Rita was a beautiful person who loved traveling. She loved her family, especially her nephews and nieces, and always wanted to have a family of her own.
“She had the ability to light up a room and wherever she went, she was the life and soul of the party. “We hope she is at peace where she is now.”
The investigation fell under the “Identify Me” program, which was launched earlier this year and targeted cold cases.
Identify Me was launched to help identify 22 suspected female murder victims and has received more than 500 messages and tips from the public, according to INTERPOL.
Secretary General Jürgen Stock said today: “After 31 years, an unknown murdered woman has had her name returned and her family has had some closure.”
“Such cases underscore the urgent need to connect police forces worldwide, particularly when it comes to missing people.”
“We congratulate the authorities in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands for their leadership in Operation Identify Me.” The important work continues.”
INTERPOL urges the public, particularly those who remember a missing friend or family member, to get in touch via their Identify Me portal if they recognize anyone on the website.
The campaign was launched by the International Criminal Police Organization after a forensic investigator pressed for information to solve a 1999 “unsolved case” in which a woman was found dead in a trash can in Amsterdam, shot in the head and chest.
Carina Van Leeuwen has brought together resources from European police forces to find answers to 22 different long-unsolved cases, some dating back forty years.