Suspect arrested in Spain over Dutch boy's 1998 death

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A suspect in the 1998 murder of a young Dutch boy has been arrested in Spain, police in the Netherlands said on Sunday.

Nicky Verstappen, 11, disappeared during the night of August 9, 1998, while at a summer camp at the Brunssumerheide nature reserve, near the German border. His body was found the next evening, close to the campsite.

Nicky Verstappen's family at a press conference in Maastricht after suspect's DNA found in a massive DNA research project for murderer hunting on August 22, 2018. /VCG Photo

"Jos Brech, 55, a suspect in the death of Nicky Verstappen was arrested in Spain on Sunday afternoon. He was taken into custody and will be handed over to the Netherlands," a police statement issued in Limburg, the southern district in which the boy disappeared, said.

Extradition proceedings for the suspect are underway.

Nicky Verstappen /Netherlands Police Photo

Earlier this year, Dutch police launched the country's biggest ever DNA search, asking over 20,000 men to come forward for testing in an attempt to solve the case.

Jos Brech did not participate in the call for the national voluntary DNA samples, Dutch broadcaster NOS reported.

Source(s): AFP