900 men in Germany are asked to give DNA samples to solve violent murder of 11-year-old girl who was abducted while walking her neighbour’s dog in 1996
- German police on Saturday asked 900 men to have DNA tested in Grevenbroich
- Claudia Ruf was kidnapped, raped and choked to death in a shocking 1996 case
- Her charred body was found on an Euskirchen path, 43 miles from Grevenbroich
- The 900 men, who were 14 to 70 at the time of killing, asked to have a saliva test
- DNA was found on Claudia’s body and police hope the tests will identify her killer
German police yesterday asked 900 men to have their DNA tested to help solve the gruesome killing of an 11-year-old girl 23 years ago.
Claudia Ruf from the western city of Grevenbroich was kidnapped, raped and choked to death in 1996 in a case that shocked the country.
Her body was found in Euskirchen, 43 miles south of her home city.
The 900 men, who were between 14 and 70 at the time of Ruf’s killing, were asked to have a saliva swab test to have their DNA identified.
Claudia Ruf (pictured), from the western city of Grevenbroich, was kidnapped, raped and choked to death in 1996 in a case that shocked the country. Her body was found in Euskirchen, 43 miles south of her home city
Police officers earlier this month went from home to home to hand over invitations and to answer questions.
They also had a stand on the church square in Grevenbroich’s Hemmerden district to tell residents about the mass DNA test.
They said DNA traces of the killer were found on the body of the girl and they are hoping the swabs will lead them to the murderer.
Not all 900 men are suspects, police said.
While it is unlikely the murderer will take the test, investigators hope a relative will and through their results link the DNA on Claudia’s body to the perpetrator.
The 900 men, who were between 14 and 70 at the time of Ruf’s killing, have been asked to have a saliva swab test to have their DNA identified. Pictured: A press conference in Grevenbroich on November 15
The men were invited to come to testing at a local elementary school this and next weekend.
Police said after the tests have been taken all DNA that does not come up as a match in the genetic analysis will be deleted.
The Rheinische Post reported that at 10am Saturday, the first men were already lining up outside the school to get tested.
The new push comes after investigators in 2010 tested 350 men’s DNA in the area, but got no matches.
Since then they say they have found new hints that could help them find the murderer by checking the 900 men.
Police did not say if any of the 350 men previously tested were part of the new group of 900 men and they could not immediately be reached for comment.
Ruf was kidnapped in May 1996 when she went for a walk with the neighbor’s dog.
Her charred body was found two days later on a path in the fields near Euskirchen.
It had been doused with gasoline and burned.
For months, investigators asked the public for help in finding her murderer.
Police did not say if any of the 350 men previously tested (pictured, a police office demonstrating the test) were part of the new group of 900 men and they could not immediately be reached for comment
Posters of the girl were put on busses and trains and police distributed flyers.
Even more than a year after her killing, the case was shown on public TV as police asked 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.
Earlier this month, Claudia’s father addressed the public in a video and asked them to help solve the death of his daughter.
Friedhelm Ruf said: ‘After more than 23 years, there’s a big possibility to solve the sad fate of my daughter.
‘The perpetrator has been able for too long to hide behind all of us.’