More than 40 years after a teenage girl's body was found in western France, a pair of red shoes, two beaded necklaces, and a British 10p coin remain the only clues that could help identify her. Her murder is one of 46 cold cases that European authorities are hoping to solve through the second phase of Interpol's "Operation Identify Me."

The campaign, which focuses on identifying murdered women across several countries including France, Germany, and the Netherlands, marks the first time Interpol has publicly appealed for information on unidentified bodies, referred to as "black notices." The initiative aims to bring justice to victims and closure to their families.

“We want to identify the deceased women, bring answers to families, and deliver justice to the victims,” said Interpol Secretary-General Jürgen Stock.

The unidentified teenager was discovered in 1982 in a layby near the village of Le Cellier. Her body, found under layers of leaves, had been left there for several months. The red shoes and 10p coin found at the scene led investigators to suspect that she might have had ties to Britain. However, with no further leads and the victim’s remains no longer available, identifying her has proven to be a complex challenge.

Speaking near the now overgrown location, detective Franc Dannerolle emphasized the lack of respect shown to the victim. "There was no respect, no care for her before her death," he said. Retired detective Alain Brillet described the case as a "triple enigma," as authorities could never determine the teenager's identity, origin, or the circumstances of her murder.

Similar cases have surfaced in other European countries, including the Netherlands. One such case involves a woman found in Wassenaar over two decades ago, wearing brown plaid leggings and red patent shoes. Dutch forensic investigator Sandra Baasbank, who was involved in the case, hopes that the new campaign will spark new leads, as previous efforts had failed to uncover the woman's identity.

According to Dr. Susan Hitchin, Interpol's DNA unit coordinator, many of these women fell victim not only to violence but also to the loss of their names and identities. Interpol is now utilizing targeted social media and celebrity endorsements to reach potential witnesses or relatives who may hold vital information.

There is optimism surrounding the new phase of the campaign. Last year’s appeal led to the identification of British woman Rita Roberts, whose distinctive black rose tattoo was recognized by her family in a BBC report. Though learning of her death brought heartache, her family found comfort in finally knowing what had happened.

Rita’s sister, Donna, now encourages others to come forward with any information that might help bring justice to other unidentified victims. "Just because they don’t have names, don’t assume they’re not people," Donna said.

As "Operation Identify Me" progresses, investigators are hopeful that the smallest details, from a memory to a photograph, will help solve some of these long-standing mysteries and restore the identities of the unknown victims.