France stunned as 79-year-old charged with abusing 89 minors over five decades | World News
French authorities have uncovered a suspected serial predator accused of raping and sexually assaulting at least 89 children over 55 years. Suspect Jacques Laveugle, 79, is also under investigation for the murders of his mother and aunt.
The magnitude of this case has led to serious comparisons with the Gisele Pelicot case. It forces France to confront its history of sexual violence and the digital evidence that has finally exposed these crimes.
‘USB memory’: 15 volumes of digital confession
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The investigation took a pivotal turn when a relative found a USB drive containing what prosecutors called 15 volumes of “memoirs.” This digital archive details sexual acts performed between 1967 and 2022.
victims: Investigators used memories to identify 89 alleged victims, most of whom were boys between the ages of 13 and 17 at the time of the incident.
Global Reach: Memoirs describe abuse across multiple continents. In addition to France, Laveugle allegedly targeted children in India, Morocco, Algeria, Germany, Switzerland, Niger, the Philippines and New Caledonia.
Professional Access: Laveugle used the roles of teacher, tutor, school worker, and cave exploration guide to approach vulnerable children.
The trail of international abuse and murder
Laveugle’s background as an educator allowed him to travel freely. He reportedly spent decades in Morocco (1974–2024), where he was suspected of abusing at least ten victims while teaching low-income families. He was arrested during his return trip to France in 2024.
Grenoble prosecutor Étienne Manteaux announced that in addition to the sexual assault charges, Laveugle also confessed to two murders:
his mother: He admitted to strangling her when she was in the final stages of cancer.
aunt: He confessed that he killed his 92-year-old aunt because she begged him not to leave her. Instead of staying, he “chose to kill her”.
Call to the public: Identifying ‘missing identities’
In an unusual step for the French legal system, where the names of suspects are not usually disclosed during investigations, prosecutors made public Laveugle’s identity and photographs.
“This name needs to be known because the goal is to get potential victims to come forward,” Manteaux said. While the memoirs contained details, many victims’ identities were incompletely listed, posing an obstacle to investigators. A national helpline has been set up for anyone who encountered Laveugle during his 50-year career.
parallels Pelikot case
The Laveugle investigation is similar to the recent Gisele Pelicot case that shocked the world in 2024. In both cases, the suspects maintained an appearance of normalcy for decades while documenting their crimes.
digital evidence: Just as Dominique Pelicot’s crimes were revealed through thousands of photos and videos, Laveugle’s alleged abuse went unnoticed until the discovery of his digital USB memories.
Authorities emphasized the urgency of the trial, noting Laveugle’s advanced age and the difficulties of tracking down victims whose lives were affected half a century ago.
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