In a dramatic turn, Andy van den Hurk confessed online to murdering his step-sister Nicole, despite being innocent, sparking a breakthrough in her unsolved 1995 killing.
The Disappearance of Nicole van den Hurk
On November 20, 1995, 15-year-old Nicole van den Hurk vanished while cycling to her job at a shopping center in Eindhoven, Netherlands. She never arrived for her shift. That evening, authorities found her rucksack and bicycle nearby. A month later, her body was discovered in adjacent woodland, showing signs of assault and multiple stab wounds from a knife.
The case gripped the nation, drawing hundreds to search efforts and thousands to her funeral. Despite intense media coverage, no arrests followed, and the investigation stalled over time.
A Bold False Confession
Frustrated by the lack of progress, Andy van den Hurk, living in the UK by 2011, took drastic action. On March 11, 2011, he posted on Facebook: “I will be arrested today [for] the murder of my sister, I confessed.”
British police detained him and extradited him to the Netherlands. Five days later, officials released him, finding no evidence linking him to the crime. Andy then retracted his confession, stating, “I wanted to get [Nicole] exhumed and get DNA off her. I kind of set myself up and it could have gone horribly wrong. She is my sister. I miss her every day.”
Exhumation and DNA Evidence
His strategy worked. Renewed focus led police to exhume Nicole’s body in September 2011 for DNA analysis. Tests revealed traces from two men: her boyfriend at the time and an unidentified individual.
The unknown DNA matched Jos de G, a 46-year-old former psychiatric patient with a history of convictions, including rape. One prior case bore striking similarities—a knife-point rape of a young woman cycling in a nearby town.
Trial and Verdict
In April 2014, authorities charged Jos de G with Nicole’s rape and murder. His defense claimed the semen on her body and coat stemmed from a consensual encounter. Prosecutors downgraded the charges to manslaughter.
After two years in court, de G was acquitted of manslaughter but received a five-year sentence for rape. The Dutch Supreme Court upheld the ruling in June 2020.
