Dutch authorities are urging a man suspected of raping a 15-year-old girl in 2009 in the Panbos near Bilthoven to turn himself in, warning that a 3D model of him will be made public if he fails to do so.
The girl was cycling from her school on September 4, 2009, around 1 p.m., when the suspect confronted her on the bike path between Bilthoven and Bosch en Duin. Police report that he grabbed her, threatened to harm her if she did not follow him into the woods, then placed a garbage bag over her head and raped her.
Authorities have released a detailed description of the suspect. In 2009, he was estimated to be between 30 and 40 years old, approximately 1.80 meters tall, with a stocky build and light-colored eyes, possibly blue. He had dark, greasy, and unkempt hair, appeared unshaven, smelled of alcohol, and generally gave an unkempt impression. He was reportedly wearing a blue tracksuit jacket with white stripes on the sleeves, beige pants, and dark shoes. He spoke Dutch fluently, possibly with a slight accent.
The suspect’s DNA profile is known, allowing investigators to quickly verify any potential match. The Public Prosecution Service has offered a reward of 10,000 euros for information leading to his arrest.
To reinforce the appeal, the victim wrote a letter addressing the suspect directly. She said, “How could you do this? Why? I was only fifteen. I urge you to take responsibility and report to the police.” She described the lasting impact of the attack: “I have had to fight to get my life back in order. I am still extra alert when I go outside. I still have to live with the horrific memories.”
The police have created a digital form that allows suspects to report themselves anonymously online. “Sex offenders are often afraid their name and face will become publicly known,” police said, noting the suspect might surrender to avoid exposure through the 3D model, which was developed based on interviews with the victim.
This is not the first time Dutch police have used a 3D representation to track a suspect. Similar models were previously employed in 2010 after rapes in Schiedam and Vlaardingen. A 3D hologram released in late 2021 resulted in hundreds of tips and ultimately led to the capture of a 53-year-old man, who was sentenced in 2022 to six years in prison.
The victim urged the suspect’s family, friends, and acquaintances to encourage him to come forward. “You may remember asking for my name, and I gave it to you. Now it is your turn to give yours. Go to the police and make this right. You owe me that,” she wrote.
