Detectives are set to reopen cold cases as part of a new investigation into the individual known as the ‘Monster of Avignon.’ Dominique Pelicot, who was convicted in 2024 for aggravated rape and sentenced to 20 years in prison, will be the primary focus of the renewed probe by a cold case unit looking into additional crimes dating back several decades. The Nanterre prosecutors’ office stated that the investigation aims to uncover other potential victims linked to Pelicot’s criminal activities.
The trial involving Pelicot caused widespread shock in France and garnered international attention when it was revealed that he had drugged his wife, Gisele, and orchestrated a scheme involving numerous individuals to assault her while she was unconscious. Gisele Pelicot, who opted to reveal her identity to shed light on the case, has since emerged as a prominent advocate for female survivors of sexual abuse, emphasizing a shared struggle against such atrocities.
The assaults against Gisele occurred between 2011 and 2020 at their residence in Mazan, involving 72 perpetrators, including some familiar faces. Out of the 51 individuals who stood trial, nearly all were found guilty of various sexual offenses committed against Gisele.
In addition to his conviction, Dominique Pelicot is currently being investigated for two other crimes: the rape and murder of Sophie Narme, a real estate agent in Paris in 1991, and an attempted rape in Villeparisis in 1999. Pelicot has been formally implicated in these cases since October 2022, indicating substantial evidence against him.
Although Pelicot admitted partial involvement in the 1999 case following the discovery of his DNA at the scene, he denies any association with the 1991 rape and murder. Investigators noted striking similarities between the two incidents in terms of execution.
Attorney Florence Rault, representing the families of Narme and the attempted rape victim, highlighted commonalities between the two cases, suggesting a potential connection between the crimes. Pelicot’s legal counsel, Beatrice Zavarro, asserted that Pelicot, now 73, never encountered Sophie Narme and downplayed his actions in the 1999 incident as not indicative of attempted rape.
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