Brother's Desperate False Confession Revives Decades-Old Murder Mystery
In a shocking twist to one of the Netherlands' most notorious cold cases, Andy van den Hurk deliberately confessed to a crime he did not commit. His aim was to reignite the investigation into the brutal murder of his 15-year-old step-sister, Nicole van den Hurk, whose case had remained unsolved for over 15 years.
The Disappearance and Tragic Discovery
On a fateful day in 1995, Nicole van den Hurk vanished while cycling to her part-time job at a shopping centre in Eindhoven. She never arrived for her shift, and later that evening, police discovered her backpack and bicycle abandoned nearby. A month later, her body was found in a nearby wooded area, showing signs of assault and multiple stab wounds. Despite extensive searches and national media coverage, no arrests were made, and the case gradually went cold.
A Brother's Bold and Risky Strategy
Frustrated by the lack of progress, Andy van den Hurk, who had moved to the United Kingdom, devised a daring plan. In March 2011, he posted a chilling confession on his Facebook page, stating he would be arrested for his sister's murder. British police arrested him and extradited him to the Netherlands, but he was released five days later when no evidence linked him to the crime. He later revealed his true motive: to force authorities to exhume Nicole's body for DNA testing.
"I wanted to get Nicole exhumed and get DNA off her," Andy explained. "I kind of set myself up, and it could have gone horribly wrong. She is my sister. I miss her every day."Renewed Investigation and DNA Breakthrough
Miraculously, Andy's plan succeeded. In September 2011, spurred by renewed public interest, police exhumed Nicole's body and conducted advanced DNA analysis. The tests revealed traces from two men: her boyfriend at the time and an unidentified individual. This second DNA sample matched Jos de G, a 46-year-old former psychiatric patient with a history of convictions, including rape.
Notably, one of de G's prior offences involved assaulting a young woman cycling in a nearby town, a case strikingly similar to Nicole's. This connection provided a significant lead, though the defence argued the DNA evidence could have resulted from consensual activity.
Legal Proceedings and Outcome
In April 2014, charges for rape and murder were brought against Jos de G. However, after a lengthy two-year court process, the charges were reduced to manslaughter, and he was ultimately acquitted of that charge. He was sentenced to five years for rape, a decision upheld by the Dutch Supreme Court in June 2020. The case highlights the complexities of cold case investigations and the lengths families will go to seek justice.
Andy van den Hurk's false confession, while risky, ultimately brought new evidence to light, demonstrating the enduring impact of unresolved crimes on victims' families and the ongoing challenges in achieving convictions.
