France is reeling in fury after the prime suspect in the disappearance of an 11-year-old girl had previously been accused of rape but remained free. The body of Lyhanna was discovered in a disused grain silo in the southwestern Gers region, ending a days-long search that began on May 29.
Discovery of the Body
Police were led to the silo following a tip-off that the suspect in custody had previously worked there, said Gers-region prosecutor Olivier Naboulet on Friday evening. DNA testing confirmed the body was Lyhanna's, but further autopsy work is required to determine the cause of death. The girl had been wearing a black-and-white striped top, black shorts, and yellow socks with branding from the Japanese manga series "One Piece," according to police notices.
President Macron's Reaction
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed shock and dismay, stating that the case revealed cracks in the system. "Things didn't happen as they should have done. That is clear. And so it is unacceptable," Macron said. "We cannot look her family in the face and say everything went well."
Details of the Suspect
French media reported that the 41-year-old man taken into custody was seen outside Lyhanna's school in Fleurance and later on surveillance cameras driving with her in his car. He told investigators he dropped her off near the municipal swimming pool. Another Gers-region prosecutor, Clemence Meyer, revealed that young girls and their families had previously lodged multiple complaints against the suspect, including allegations of rape.
An allegation that the man raped a minor at his home in 2020 was investigated, with medical evaluations and police interviews, but the case was closed in 2024 due to lack of evidence. The man was also the subject of an ongoing police investigation for alleged rape when Lyhanna disappeared; that case involves a child who claims the suspect raped her repeatedly at his home in 2024 and 2025. Another allegation of raping a minor was lodged against the man this week.
Government Response
Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin announced an overarching investigation into the case. He said officials will examine the time taken for casework to transfer between jurisdictions, why information is transmitted on paper rather than electronically, why police seemingly did not follow orders, and "why we didn't intervene despite many months of complaints against the man." Darmanin called the situation "completely unacceptable" and attributed it to "poor organisation and without doubt, the fact that at the Justice Ministry and elsewhere, we don't take the words of children seriously."
