In a striking move, Amsterdam police have set up a hologram of a young sex worker in the city’s red-light district, hoping to uncover clues in the unsolved murder of Bernadette “Betty” Szabo. Szabo, a 19-year-old Hungarian woman, was tragically killed in 2009, a few months after giving birth. Her haunting hologram, dressed in denim hotpants and a leopard-print bra, mimics the young woman’s last days in an effort to draw attention to her case.

The lifelike hologram, which appears to knock on the window, breathe onto the glass, and write “help,” is intended to jog memories and encourage anyone with information to come forward. Betty’s murder remains a mystery despite years of investigation, prompting Dutch authorities to turn to this innovative technology for renewed attention. The hologram is displayed among active sex workers in the red-light district, serving as both a reminder of the unsolved case and a tribute to Betty’s life.

Detective Anne Dreijer-Heemskerk, committed to solving Szabo’s case, described her as a resilient young woman. Szabo had moved to Amsterdam at 18, became pregnant soon after, and continued working as a sex worker to support herself and her newborn. In February 2009, two colleagues noticed that her music had stopped playing and checked her brothel room, where they discovered her body, the victim of a brutal stabbing. Szabo’s child, who was placed in foster care after her death, never had the chance to know her.

Despite initial investigative efforts, including CCTV analysis and witness interviews, the killer was never found. Many in law enforcement believe that the perpetrator may have been a foreign tourist. Now, with a €30,000 reward in place, police are hoping for renewed interest and leads from visitors who might recall details from their time in Amsterdam.

As Amsterdam debates relocating its historic brothels to a proposed “erotic zone” on the outskirts of town, the hologram of Betty Szabo underscores the persistent dangers faced by sex workers. This chilling reminder in the bustling red-light district, where Szabo once lived and worked, aims to ensure that her case—and the issue of sex worker safety—remains in the public eye.