WILLEMSTAD – The Peter R. de Vries Foundation has officially awarded the €100,000 reward to an anonymous tipster who provided crucial information in the murder case of Mike Venema. The tip played a decisive role in the investigation, leading to the conviction of the perpetrators. As of yesterday at 5:00 PM, it was confirmed that none of the convicted individuals would be appealing their sentences, making their convictions final.
Mike Venema was murdered here in Curaçao
The court handed down prison sentences ranging from 30 months to 15 years. Four of the five defendants were convicted of robbery with violence resulting in death. Suyati M. was identified as the main perpetrator, allegedly administering a fatal injection. Eurodis J. played a leading role in orchestrating the crime and was involved in disposing of the body. Shakir C. and Shahier P. physically participated in the assault, including strangling Venema. Ervinella F. played a minor role and was only convicted of theft.
First Reward Issued by the Peter R. de Vries Foundation
One of the key conditions set by the Foundation is that rewards are only paid once a conviction is final. Now that this requirement has been met, the tipster will receive the promised sum. Due to the anonymous nature of the process, no details about the tip or the identity of the informant will be disclosed. Since its founding in 2021, this marks the first time the Foundation has issued a reward.
The Case of Mike Venema
On February 29, 2023, the Peter R. de Vries Foundation announced a €100,000 reward for information leading to the resolution of the murder of Mike Venema, who was killed in September 2018 in Curaçao. His body was discovered nearly a year later, in July 2019, submerged in a sunken vehicle at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea.
Despite years of investigation, the case remained unsolved until the reward was announced. The widespread media coverage that followed led to dozens of tips, one of which proved to be the key breakthrough. The crucial information, combined with extensive police work in both the Netherlands and Curaçao, resulted in the arrest of five suspects on June 4, 2024—three in Curaçao and two in the Netherlands.
Reward System Proves Effective
Kelly de Vries, Director of the Peter R. de Vries Foundation, emphasized the importance of persistence in solving cold cases. “This breakthrough demonstrates the power of keeping public attention on unsolved crimes and proves that a substantial reward can make a real difference. This was Peter R. de Vries’ belief: that collaboration between law enforcement and the public is key to solving crimes. We are proud to issue this reward as a symbol of justice and a tribute to Mike Venema and his parents, who, sadly, did not live to see these answers come to light.”
The Foundation hopes that this successful reward payout will encourage others with valuable information to come forward. Currently, 42 other cases still have €100,000 rewards available for crucial tips.