The prime suspect in the killing of a Dutch schoolboy who vanished from a campsite over 20 years ago has been arrested.

Former scout worker Jos Brech, 55, was taken into custody in Spain on Sunday afternoon and agreed to be extradited at a court hearing on Monday.

Nicky Verstappen, 11, was at a summer camp in August 1998 when he vanished from his tent in Brunssum, the Netherlands.

His body was discovered near a Christmas tree plot just over half a mile (1km) from the campsite the following day.

Image: Armed Spanish police arrest Brech after a tip-off

He had been sexually abused before he was killed.


The schoolboy's murder shocked the Netherlands and prompted one of the most extensive murder investigations ever in the country.

Brech, who is an expert in survival techniques, was previously thought to be hiding in France's mountainous eastern Vosges region.

Image: Nicky's father Peter Verstappen (C), his sister Femke and mother Berthie Verstappen

He was arrested after a member of the public recognised him from a media appeal earlier this month, tipping off police.

Earlier this year, 16,000 men voluntarily donated DNA samples in a bid to solve the case.

While Brech did not respond to the DNA request, the testing project enabled experts to determine whether a relative of the donor was a match for DNA found on the schoolboy's clothing.

Image: The case has captivated the Netherlands for 20 years

Brech, who was 35 at the time of the murder, had been stopped by military police close to the scene of the murder a day after Nicky's disappearance.

He was interviewed, but was not believed to be a person of interest.

After being reported missing by his family in April, police examined Brech's home and found he is a 100% match for the DNA found on the schoolboy.

Peter R. de Vries, a journalist and spokesman for the dead boy's family, wrote on Twitter: "We got him! Jos Brech was arrested in Spain near Barcelona! The family is very relieved. Justice will be done!"