Detectives will be reexamining unresolved cases as part of a new investigation focusing on the notorious ‘Monster of Avignon’. Dominique Pelicot, who was convicted in 2024 for aggravated rape, will be the central figure in an expanded inquiry by a cold case unit looking into additional offenses spanning several decades. This investigation aims to uncover potential new victims, as confirmed by the Nanterre prosecutors’ office near the city of Paris.
The trial of Pelicot sent shockwaves through France and captured global attention when it was revealed that he had drugged his wife, Gisele, and orchestrated numerous assaults by strangers while she was unconscious. Gisele Pelicot, who publicly revealed her identity to shed light on the case, has emerged as a prominent advocate for survivors of sexual abuse in the country, emphasizing a shared struggle among victims.
The assaults against Gisele occurred between 2011 and 2020 at their residence in the town of Mazan, involving 72 different men, some of whom were acquaintances. Out of the 51 men who stood trial, nearly all were found guilty of various sexual offenses against Gisele.
Furthermore, Dominique Pelicot is under investigation for two other crimes – the rape and homicide of real estate agent Sophie Narme in Paris in 1991, and an attempted rape in the suburb of Villeparisis in 1999. Formal inquiries into these incidents began in October 2022, indicating substantial evidence linking Pelicot to the cases.
Although Pelicot partially admitted to involvement in the 1999 case where his DNA was found at the crime scene, he denies any connection to the 1991 rape and murder. Investigators have noted significant similarities in the modus operandi of both incidents, leading attorney Florence Rault, representing Narme’s family and the 1999 victim, to suggest a potential common perpetrator.
Pelicot’s lawyer, Beatrice Zavarro, stated that the 73-year-old denies ever meeting Sophie Narme and claimed the altercation in the 1999 case was not an attempted rape but had different intentions. The ongoing investigations continue to uncover intricate details linking Pelicot to the series of crimes under scrutiny.