Detectives are set to reexamine unresolved cases as part of a new inquiry into the infamous ‘Monster of Avignon’. Dominique Pelicot, who was handed a 20-year prison sentence in 2024 for aggravated rape, will be the focal point of an expanded investigation by a cold case unit looking into additional offenses spanning decades. The Nanterre prosecutors’ office near Paris has confirmed that the probe aims to uncover potential further victims.
The trial of Pelicot created a global stir, revealing that he drugged his wife, Gisele, and orchestrated a series of sexual assaults by strangers while she was unconscious. Gisele Pelicot, who chose to reveal her identity to raise awareness, has since become a prominent advocate for female survivors of sexual abuse, emphasizing solidarity in the fight against such crimes.
The assaults against Gisele occurred between 2011 and 2020 in their residence in Mazan, involving 72 individuals, including some familiar to her. Out of the 51 men who stood trial, nearly all were found guilty of committing various sexual offenses against Gisèle.
Additionally, Dominique Pelicot is under investigation for two other incidents – the rape and murder of Sophie Narme, a real estate agent in Paris in 1991, and an attempted rape in Villeparisis in 1999. These cases have been under scrutiny since October 2022, indicating strong evidence against Pelicot.
While Pelicot admitted partial involvement in the 1999 case due to DNA evidence, he denies any connection to the 1991 rape and murder. Investigators have noted striking similarities in the modus operandi of both crimes.
Lawyer Florence Rault, representing Narme’s family and the 1999 victim, highlighted common patterns between the two cases, suggesting a potential link between the offenses. Pelicot’s attorney, Beatrice Zavarro, stated that Pelicot denies knowing Sophie Narme and explained his version of events in the 1999 incident.