A Dutch police cold case team has arrested a 46-year-old man in connection with the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl 19 years ago.

The man, from Helmond, was picked up earlier this week after his DNA was found to have ‘similarities’ with the killer’s profile. He will appear in court on Friday.

Nicole van den Hurk from Eindhoven disappeared in October 1995 as she cycled from her grandmother’s house in Tongelre to work at a supermarket. Her body was found six weeks later in shrubs.

Breakthrough

The murder was first investigated by a cold case team in 2004. Then in 2011, her stepbrother in England came forward saying he had new information, police said in a statement.

The girl’s remains were exhumed in September 2011 for further investigation. ‘That led to the definitive breakthrough,’ police said.