Woensdag 22 augustus 2018 11:28 uur
Limburg,
Ontvang updates voor Verspreide huizen Vliegbasis Zuid-Limburg
Limburg, - There has been a major breakthrough in the investigation into the death of Nicky Verstappen. The donor of the suspicious traces that were found on the clothes of Nicky Verstappen is now known. The donor is Jos Brech, a 55-year-old male.
The present whereabouts of the suspect are unknown. In the fall of 2017 he left the country. The final sign of life dates back to February 2018. His family reported him missing in April 2018.
Recent searches did not yield any results. An alert has been issued on him both nationally and internationally. As of today he is also on the Netherlands Most Wanted List.
Place of abode
His last known place of abode is the Vosges in France. Several searches were conducted there.
The French Gendarmerie were also involved. Right now there is no trace of him.
Who is Jos Brech?
In 1998 Jos Brech was 35 years old and lived in Simpelveld. He was active in scouting and had worked in a preschool for some years.
As far as we know the last years he had been active mainly as the organiser of bushcraft trips and has been doing the same abroad. He is an experienced bushcrafter and that allows him to survive in the wild for longer periods of time.
Investigation
As of 1998 the man has been included in the police investigation. He was one of the passers-by at the Brunssumerheide in the night of 11/12 August 1998. His details were recorded at the time. For that reason the police approached him late 2017 within the framework of the one on one DNA investigation. He did not respond to the appeals that were sent.
As part of the missing persons case another police team outside Limburg sent personal items of the man to the NFI [Netherlands Forensic Institute] for DNA testing. Apart from that the investigating team Nicky Verstappen also sent personal items of the man to the NFI. The investigating team also submitted DNA of two distant relatives of the man.
On 8 June 2018 the NFI reported that the DNA profiles from the missing persons case and the investigation Nicky Verstappen as well as the profiles of the distant relatives of the man corresponded with the suspicious traces on the clothes of Nicky Verstappen.
It was evident to the investigating team that this man is the donor of the suspicious traces.
From that moment on this man has become the suspect in the investigation. The police investigation now focuses on locating him.
Brunssummerheide
11-year-old Nicky was on a summer camp at the Brunssummerheide when he went missing in the night of 9/10 August 1998. The following evening his body was found near the camp site.
The investigation into the disappearance and death of Nicky never stopped.
Family
The family of Nicky Verstappen were informed of these developments in the investigation by the investigating team as soon as they became known.
They are glad to hear of these developments. “The question that still remains is: ‘What happened to Nicky.’ We hope that the following step in the investigation soon gives more answers.”
Appeal
The police are now asking for the help of the public in finding Jos Brech. Did you see or talk to him after mid February 2018? Or do you have any idea where he might be staying right now? Please let us know via the digital tip-off form or via the special telephone number +31 88-1688999. This telephone number will be available from 22 up to and including 31 August for tips/leads regarding the possible place of abode of the suspect. This number can also be used for possible other information regarding the suspect.
Information can also be given confidentially to the Criminal Intelligence Team via telephone number +31 79-3458999.
Additional information about the investigation Nicky Verstappen and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at www.onderzoeknickyverstappen.nl.
Bekijk al het lokale nieuws van Verspreide huizen Vliegbasis Zuid-Limburg