Crime

Body of missing girl found: All evidence points to murder by two Greenlandic fishermen

By Staff

The scene of the crime Birna went missing in downtown Reykjavík early Saturday Jan 14. Her body was found today, Sunday, near Selvogsviti lighthouse on Reykjanes peninsula. Police believes she was murdered by two crewmembers of a Greenlandic trawler harboured in Hafnarfjarðarhöfn harbour. Photo/Loftmyndir-Vísir-Iceland Magazine.

Today Police and members of the Search and Rescue units found the body of 20 year old local girl, Birna Brjánsdóttir. Birna went missing early in the morning of Saturday January 14. Police has arrested two crew members of a Greenlandic trawler, Polar Nanoq, who are believed to have murdered Birna and then dumped her body in the sea. Her body was recovered from the beach near Selvogsviti lighthouse on the south coast of Reykjanes peninsula. Police made the announcement at a press conference earlier today.

The local news site Vísir reports that Police has found blood which has been confirmed to have come from Birna in a red Kia Rio which had been rented by sailors from the Greenlandic trawler Polar Nanoq. Birna's shoes had previously been found close to where the ship was harboured. On Wednesday Icelandic Police boarded the trawler at sea and arrested the two men at sea. Police has now confirmed that they believe they have overwhelming evidence proving the two men murdered Birna.

A third man was later arrested, but released after questioning. A fourth man is still in custody after Police discovered large quantities of drugs on-board the ship. Vísir reports that the street value of the drugs 1 million USD.

On Saturday the Icelandic Search and Rescue Units mounted the largest search in Icelandic history to try to find Birna. More than 500 ICE-SAR members participated in the search, in addition to the Icelandic Coast Guard, and members of the Police. Her body was found earlier today in the beach near Selvogsviti lighthouse on the south coast of Reykjanes peninsula.

Previous Iceland Magazine coverage of the case:

Monday:

A large scale search had been underway since Saturday for 20 year old local woman. Police feared foul play.

Read more: Young local woman missing since Saturday: Have you seen her?

Tuesday

Police relased CCTV footage of Birna walking in downtown Reykjavík on Monday.

Read more: Search for missing young woman: Police releases footage from surveillance cameras

Shoes which match those worn by Birna were found early Tuesday morning in Hafnafjörður, south of Reykjavík. Police does not rule out the shoes were planted at the scene. All available Police and Search and Rescue members are searching in and around Hafnafjörður harbour.

Read more: Police does not rule out that pair of shoes believed to belong to missing woman were planted

Tuesday afternoon Police found what it believes is the red Kia Rio seen in security camera footage just seconds before she was last spotted on CCTV footage in down town Reykjavík. The car was likely driven by foreign nationals. The driver is seen behaving suspiciously shortly after Birna's cellphone is turned off at 5:50 AM.

Read more: Missing woman: Car seen in surveillance tapes likely found, driver seen behaving strangely

The car was linked to crew members of Greenlandic trawler which had been docked in Hafnarfjörður from Wednesday to Satuday. the trawler had sailed out and was fishing off the east coast of Greenland.

Read more: DEVELOPING: Car linked to disappearance of young local woman connected crew of a trawler from Greenland

Wednesday:

Security camera footage from Hafnarfjörður harbour shows crew members exiting the red Kia Rio, behaving suspiciously. The trawler was returned to harbour in Reykjavík.

Read more: Missing girl: Disturbing clues, no arrests, but Greenlandic trawler returned to harbour in Iceland

The case has gripped the Icelandic nation. Police warns people to avoid of "hysteria".

Read more: Airing of British TV series The Missing postponed while search continues for missing girl

Police officers and members of the Police Special Forces were flown out to the Danish Coast Guard vessel HDMS Triton which was on intercept course with the Polar Nanoq.

Read more: Missing girl: Members of the Police Special Forces on their way to Greenlandic trawler

Police arrested two men on board the trawler.

Read more: Two arrested on-board Greenlandic trawler in connection to missing girl

Thursday

More arrests on-board the ship, which arrived in harbour at 23:07 on Wednesday

Read more: Video: Third sailor on Greenlandic trawler arrested and taken for questioning over missing girl

Police reveals that evidence from the a red Kia Rio the sailors had rented from Friday to Saturday pointed to a violent crime.

Read more: Missing girl: Evidence from car rented by crew members of Greenlandic trawler points to a crime

Police discover large quantities of drugs on-board the trawler, arresting a fourth man.

Read more: Fourth man arrested after large quantities of drugs discovered on board Greenlandic trawler

Friday:

Read more: Two sailors from Greenlandic trawler suspected of murder, search for missing girl continues

Read more: Greenlandic Foreign Minister postpones visit to Norway due to disappearance of local girl