The suspect in Lyhanna’s disappearance confronted a number of intercourse abuse complaints involving minors prior to now, prosecutors say
A physique has been discovered within the seek for an 11-year-old woman who disappeared in southwestern France final week, because it emerged that the primary suspect had a number of allegations of raping and sexually abusing minors which have been dismissed by police.
Lyhanna disappeared on Might 29 close to the city of Fleurance within the Gers area after she was reportedly seen getting into a person’s automobile exterior her college.
The invention was made on Thursday, after round 170 law enforcement officials, supported by volunteers, drones, helicopters, and search canines, spent days combing the countryside round Fleurance. Formal identification continues to be underway, in accordance with media reviews.
The case sparked outrage after prosecutors revealed that the 41-year-old father of two, the suspect, was the topic of a number of earlier complaints, together with rape allegations that have been both dropped or dismissed.
“What we’re discovering day after day is totally insufferable,” authorities spokeswoman Maud Bregeon informed reporters. “It raises a profound query: what significance can we give to victims’ testimonies? How are investigations carried out?”
The person acknowledged giving Lyhanna a experience however informed investigators he dropped her off close to an area swimming pool – a model of occasions which prosecutors referred to as inconsistent. He was subsequently arrested and later positioned beneath formal investigation for the alleged kidnapping and confinement of a minor.
Prosecutor Clemence Meyer mentioned the suspect confronted a number of prior complaints. One case involving a youngster was dropped in 2018 after the woman mentioned the connection was consensual. One other criticism alleging the rape of a kid beneath 15 was dismissed in 2024 because of lack of proof. A separate criticism filed in August 2025 alleged the rape of a younger woman in 2024-2025. Meyer mentioned the investigation was nonetheless ongoing when Lyhanna disappeared and that the suspect had not but been questioned.
Anne-Cecile Mailfert of the Girls’s Basis mentioned the case exposes deep failures in France’s response to sexual violence.
Mailfert mentioned she was “surprised” and “offended” after studying that the suspect was accused of rape final yr, saying one other 10-year-old woman discovered the “immense braveness” to report the abuse however “nothing occurred.”
“The system doesn’t work,” she mentioned, calling for a complete legislation to fight sexual violence.
You possibly can share this story on social media:
