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Dutch police leverage hologram for cold case

Dutch police have turned to hologram technology in an effort to solve a cold case from more than a decade ago.

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November 11, 2024

Dutch police have turned to hologram technology in an effort to solve a cold case from more than a decade ago.

The Guardian reports that authorities in The Netherlands have installed a life-sized hologram of victim Bernadett "Betty" Szabo in the red-light district in an effort to stimulate memories and obtain leads in the murder case from 2019.

A house on the corner of the streets Korte Stormsteeg and Oudezijds Achterburgwal has been dedicated to the case, including the 3D hologram of Betty, which includes the well-known dragon tattoo and asks passerby to help with the investigation.

"This is the first time we've done something like this and, to be honest, we're a bit nervous," Benjamin van Gogh, coordinator at the Amsterdam wanted and missing persons team, said in the Guardian report. "We want to do justice to Betty, to her family and friends, and to the case. Therefore, before deciding to use a hologram for the campaign, we brainstormed with different parties both within and outside the police on whether we should go ahead with this and how we should set it up... We are committed to doing this with dignity and with the clear purpose of achieving some form of justice for Betty by finding her murderer or murderers."

A reward has been posted for information in the amount of €30,000 (approximately $31,919).

The Dutch authorities have posted about the investigation and the hologram on X (formerly known as Twitter):

Wie bracht de 19-jarige Betty Szabó om het leven?
De Amsterdamse politie doet vanaf vandaag een ultieme laatste poging om te achterhalen wie in 2009 de toen 19-jarige sekswerker Betty Szabó vermoordde(n). Met een uitgebreide campagne in het Wallen-gebied wordt één week lang op… pic.twitter.com/fjvQ8QJYlV

— Politie Eenheid Amsterdam (@POL_Amsterdam) November 9, 2024