Nicky Verstappen: Suspect held over Dutch boy’s 1998 death

Dutch police investigating the disappearance and death of schoolboy Nicky Verstappen in 1998 say their top suspect has been arrested in Spain.

Jos Brech was once known as a suspect after the Netherlands’ largest ever DNA harvesting operation, which integrated his relatives.

It gave police a very important clue linking him to DNA on Nicky Verstappen’s clothes.

Extradition complaints for the previous scout grasp are below way.

“Jos B, 55, a suspect in the loss of life of Nicky Verstappen was once arrested in Spain on Sunday afternoon. He was taken into custody and can be handed over to the Netherlands,” said a statement from police in Limburg, the southern Dutch province the place the boy disappeared.

Symbol copyright Netherlands Police Image caption Jos Brech is seen here in police handout photos

Nicky, then elderly ELEVEN, used to be at a summer camp in August 1998 while he vanished from his tent. His frame was found out within the woodland the following day.

Jos Brech, who lived local, disappeared in advance this yr, following the biggest DNA checking out undertaking ever within the Netherlands.

One of the only items of proof in the case used to be foreign DNA found out on Nicky’s clothing.

More than 14,000 men voluntarily gave DNA samples to the research – none of whom have been suspects.

But by evaluating the samples, it would be determined if a relative of the donor was a match, narrowing the search.

Mr Brech didn’t participate within the call for voluntary DNA samples, Dutch broadcaster NOS pronounced.

He was recorded as having passed the scene of the crime again in 1998, NOS stated, strolling by a few days later in a while after midnight. He used to be stopped by means of police and later interviewed, however were concept to be an innocent passer-by.

After he was once suggested lacking in April this year, police examining his home came upon he’s a 100% match for the DNA discovered on Nicky’s body.