An elderly man, 82, and a woman, 60, are accused of abducting and subjecting a 45-year-old woman to torture over a five-year period. The victim, described as psychologically vulnerable, was reportedly confined in Saint-Molf, located in France’s Brittany peninsula, by her female roommate and the male accomplice. She was found with hypothermia and taken to a hospital.
According to Nantes prosecutor Antoine Leroy, the victim was coerced to live in either the garden or a garage attached to the suspects’ residence. The woman managed to escape while the man was distracted watching TV, seeking help from a neighbor while partially clothed, revealing her captivity for five years.
The victim shared that she initially lived with another woman in the shared apartment until the man arrived, after which she was banished to live outside in the garden or in a garage, as confirmed by a search of the property. She endured dire living conditions in the garage, sleeping on a deckchair and resorting to using a potty or plastic bags for sanitation, consuming porridge mixed with dish soap, and being confined indoors.
The victim’s disappearance from public view coincided with her divorce in April 2022, as her financial transactions primarily benefited the accused couple. The suspects, detained last week, acknowledged the core allegations but attempted to minimize their severity.
Both individuals face charges of kidnapping involving torture or barbaric acts, carrying the possibility of life imprisonment. Additionally, they are accused of exploiting the victim’s vulnerable state for fraudulent purposes. The man is under judicial supervision, while the woman remains in custody.