Hologram of murdered sex worker generates tips, but no breakthrough yet
A hologram of a young sex worker murdered 15 years ago in Amsterdam has brought renewed attention to her case, generating dozens of tips. However, the key information needed to solve the case remains elusive, police said Sunday.
The hologram depicts Betty Szabó, a 19-year-old Hungarian woman who was brutally killed in 2009 in her workroom on the Wallen. She was stabbed dozens of times, mostly in her neck and throat.
The innovative hologram project began last Saturday and concluded this weekend. It showed Szabó seated on a stool behind a window in a building on the Korte Stormsteeg, near where she was killed. Stickers on the window provided information about the case, and the hologram addressed passersby, urging them to come forward with any leads.
Dozens of tips, but no “golden” one
The initiative, which included a reward of 30,000 euro for a decisive lead, has yielded numerous responses, police said. “There is useful information among the tips,” said a spokesperson, “but the golden tip is not yet there.”
Police expressed satisfaction with the level of attention the hologram has brought to the case, both in the Netherlands and internationally. The investigation remains ongoing, and the call for tips continues.
Szabó moved to Amsterdam from Hungary at the age of 18. Inspired by a friend, she entered sex work on the Wallen, often working seven days a week and up to 14 hours a day. Even during her pregnancy, she continued working until shortly before her child was born.
Her life in the red-light district earned her the nickname “Penguin” due to how she walked in late pregnancy. Just weeks before her baby was due, clients and colleagues reportedly lined up to give gifts and congratulate.
On February 19, 2009, Szabó was found murdered in her workroom. Near her body was a plastic folder containing a photo of her newborn child.
Renewed investigation with advanced technology
After her death, a large police team investigated the case, and it was featured on the television program Opsporing Verzocht. Two men were initially detained as suspects, but there was insufficient evidence to prosecute them. The case eventually went cold.
The recent deployment of the hologram marks a renewed effort to solve the case, using technology to engage the public in ways previously unavailable.
“We are very pleased with the attention the case has received,” the police spokesperson said. “The investigation continues, and we hope new information will emerge.”
The hologram has now been taken down, but the reward and call for information remain active.
