Interpol's "Identify Me" Campaign Makes First Transcontinental Success
The global police agency Interpol has achieved its first transcontinental success in its "Identify Me" campaign, which aims to identify over 40 women found dead in six European countries in recent decades. The campaign seeks public assistance in putting names to the missing women.
On Thursday, Interpol announced the identification of a Paraguayan woman found hanged in Spain in 2018. The 33-year-old victim, previously known only as "the woman in the chicken coop," was identified as Ainoha Izaga Ibieta Lima.
This identification marks a significant milestone for the campaign, as it demonstrates its ability to connect information across continents and bring closure to families of the deceased. Previously, authorities relied on distinguishing features or apparel to identify the victims, resorting to names like "the woman with the flower tattoo" or "the woman in the suitcase."
Izaga's brother reported her disappearance in 2019, stating that she had left Paraguay for Spain in 2013. Her body was found hanged on a farm in Girona, northeastern Spain, in August 2018. With no identification on her person and no recognition from the farm's inhabitants or neighbors, her identity remained a mystery.
However, after the launch of the Interpol appeal in 2023, Paraguayan authorities were able to match her fingerprints, supplied by Spain, to their records in March 2025. This breakthrough allowed for her identification and brought some solace to her family.
The "Identify Me" campaign has also achieved success within Europe. In November 2023, authorities identified Rita Roberts, a British woman found murdered in Antwerp, Belgium in 1992. Her relatives recognized her through a tattoo.
Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza emphasized the campaign's importance in restoring dignity to the victims and giving a voice to those affected by tragedy. While 45 cases in the "Identify Me" files remain unsolved, the campaign continues its efforts to bring closure to families and provide justice for the victims.