Hologram of Murdered Sex Worker in Amsterdam's Red Light District Aims to Crack Cold Case
A hologram of murdered sex worker Betty Szabo is being used in Amsterdam's red light district to solve a 15-year-old cold case. Detective Anne Dreijer-Heemskerk is leading the investigation to bring justice for Betty Szabo, who was killed just months after giving birth. Authorities are offering a €30,000 reward for information, suspecting the perpetrator may have been a foreigner.
The 3D computer-generated image, representing Bernadette "Betty" Szabo, a 19-year-old woman from Hungary who was brutally murdered in 2009, is designed to attract attention and potentially solve the cold case that has puzzled Dutch authorities for 15 years.
Projected behind a window among the bustling district's working women, the lifelike hologram of Betty Szabo reaches out, breathes on the glass, and writes "help," in a bid to jog memories and bring focus to the unsolved murder. Detective Anne Dreijer-Heemskerk, leading the cold case investigation, is determined to bring justice for the young victim, describing her tragic story of hardship and resilience.
Betty Szabo's life took a tragic turn when she was murdered just three months after giving birth, leaving her baby in foster care. Despite extensive efforts by the police, including reviewing CCTV footage and questioning witnesses, the killer has never been apprehended. Authorities suspect the perpetrator may have been a foreigner, appealing to anyone who visited Amsterdam during that time to come forward with information, offering a €30,000 reward for leads.
As Amsterdam debates relocating its renowned brothels to a designated "erotic zone," the hologram of Betty Szabo serves as a poignant reminder of the risks faced by sex workers in the area. Concerns have been raised by sex workers about the potential dangers they may face if removed from public view, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of those in the industry.
The presence of Betty Szabo's hologram in the historic red-light district not only keeps her memory alive but also serves as a stark reminder that justice has yet to be served in her case.
A hologram of murdered sex worker Betty Szabo is being used in Amsterdam's red light district to solve a 15-year-old cold case.
Detective Anne Dreijer-Heemskerk is leading the investigation to bring justice for Betty Szabo, who was killed just months after giving birth.
Authorities are offering a €30,000 reward for information, suspecting the perpetrator may have been a foreigner.
Credit: BBC