In early July 2025, Spain’s Ministry of the Interior announced the resolution of one of the country’s most mysterious cases of recent years. The identity of the woman long referred to as the “Lady in Pink” has finally been established. Her body was originally found in the summer of 2005 by the roadside near Viladecans, in the province of Barcelona. At the time, no one could have imagined who this young woman with striking blue eyes and copper-chestnut wavy hair was.
On the day of the tragedy, she was wearing a distinctive pink outfit: fuchsia trousers, a floral print blouse, and black-and-pink sandals. This look earned her the nickname by which she became known throughout Catalonia. The cause of death immediately raised suspicions among investigators, and the absence of documents or personal belongings made the case even more difficult. For years, the case remained unsolved, and the victim’s identity unknown.
The situation changed thanks to the international Identify Me operation launched by Interpol. The Spanish branch of the organization in Madrid coordinated the investigation, with colleagues from Turkey and Russia joining the effort. A turning point came when fingerprints sent from Ankara matched those taken from the “Lady in Pink.” Forensic anthropology experts from Spain’s National Police confirmed the match, while Russian specialists compared the victim’s DNA to genetic material from her sister. This allowed authorities to identify the woman as 31-year-old Lyudmila Zavada, originally from Russia.
The investigation into the circumstances of Lyudmila’s death is ongoing. Authorities have not disclosed details, but note that international cooperation has not only restored justice, but also strengthened trust between countries in forensic matters. The Identify Me operation has already yielded results in other cases: earlier this year, another woman found in 2018 in Girona was identified. She was a Paraguayan citizen, long referred to as the “Barn Woman.” Her identity was also established thanks to the exchange of data between police databases from various countries.
In both cases, the victims remained unidentified for a long time, their stories untold. Now, after years, their families have the chance to learn the truth and perhaps achieve justice. Spanish investigators emphasize that such successes have only been possible through close collaboration with international colleagues and the adoption of modern identification methods.
