Germany 2019: German LE start DNA testing hundreds over murder of Claudia Ruf, 11, in 1996

[Elainera]

Saturday, 23 Nov 2019

German police to test hundreds over girl's murder

Investigators in the west German town of Grevenbroich have started DNA tests on hundreds of men in the hope of solving a 23-year-old murder cold case.

Claudia Ruf, 11, was found sexually assaulted and murdered 70km (43 miles) south of the town in 1996. No-one has been charged with her death.

Police sent invitations to at least 900 men in an effort to match DNA samples recovered from the scene.

Claudia Ruf was kidnapped in May 1996 while walking a neighbour's dog in Grevenbroich, which is about 40km north-west of Cologne.

Her body was found two days later having been strangled, doused in petrol and partially burned.

Claudia's father, Friedhelm Ruf, made an emotional appeal in a video message last week.

"After more than 23 years, there's a big possibility to solve the sad fate of my daughter," he was quoted by AP as saying. "The perpetrator has been able for too long to hide behind all of us."

Police tested 350 local DNA samples in 2010, but made no breakthrough.

According to German media, investigators hope they can utilise a recent change which allows closely-related samples, from relatives, to be flagged in results.

 

[PayrollNerd]

This is interesting and I truly hope they can find the family connection. I see they used the word "invite" so it doesn't sound like it's a mandate. I wonder how many countries are working to change their laws to allow DNA testing for law enforcement.

 

[jaejae]

Here is a Sky News report about the developments in this case:

Germany: 800 men asked to give DNA to solve violent murder of girl in 1996

Here is another report:

Germany: Huge DNA test underway to solve 23-year-old murder | DW | 23.11.2019

One more report:

German police to eye 900 men’s DNA seeking girl’s killer

 

[imstilla.grandma]

In this Friday, Nov. 15, 2019 photo a picture of Claudia Ruf is seen on a video screen as jounalists wait for the start of a press conference in Grevenbroich, Germany. Police in the western German city of Grevenbroich have asked about 900 men to come forward and have their DNA tested to help solve the gruesome killing of an 11-year-old girl decades ago. The girl, Claudia Ruf, was kidnapped, raped and choked to death by an anonymous murderer in 1996. (Roland Weihrauch/dpa via AP)

Police told the Bild newspaper they've received dozens of tips to help solve the murder thanks to a renewed interest in the case, and men over the age of 14 are invited to take part in the testing.

The Rheinische Post reported that at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, the first men were already lining up outside the elementary school to get tested.
German police testing DNA of 900 men for unsolved murder cold case

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The new push comes after investigators in 2010 already unsuccessfully tested some 350 men’s DNA in the area. They say since those tests in 2010, they have found new hints that could help them find the murderer by checking the 900 men.

For months, investigators asked the public for help in finding her murderer. Posters of the girl were put up on busses and trains and police distributed flyers. Over a year after her killing, the case was shown on public TV, again asking the public to come forward with tips. A reward was offered and Ruf’s case was the first in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia to get its own homepage at the time.

German police ask 900 men for DNA tests in Claudia Ruf murder