January 30th 2025.
In 1991, a horrific crime shook the city of Paris and left its residents in shock and fear. 23-year-old Sophie Narme, a young estate agent, was found dead in a Parisian flat where she had been showing a client a property. Her body was discovered with her Chanel belt tightly wrapped around her neck, her hands bound, and her pants pulled down. It was a gruesome scene - she had been drugged, raped, strangled, and stabbed with a knife. The perpetrator had left no trace behind, and the case quickly went cold, leaving Sophie's family and the authorities desperate for answers.
Years went by, and the case remained unsolved until 1999, when another young estate agent named Marion narrowly escaped a strikingly similar attack. A man by the name of 'Rigot' had come to her agency, posing as a potential client. But once inside the property, he attempted to assault her, using the same methods as those used on Sophie. Luckily, Marion was able to fend off her attacker and lock herself in a room, but not before she had seen his face and left behind a crucial piece of evidence - his blood on her shoes.
The investigation into Marion's case led to a breakthrough in Sophie's case as well. In August 2022, police finally found a DNA match for the blood on Marion's shoes, and two months later, Marion herself identified the culprit - Dominique Pelicot. Pelicot was already serving a 20-year prison sentence for the horrific crimes he had committed against his own wife, Gisèle. It was a shocking revelation that Pelicot could also be responsible for the brutal murder of Sophie Narme.
Gisèle's ordeal had only come to light after Pelicot was caught taking inappropriate photos of women in a supermarket. The police discovered thousands of images and videos of Gisèle being drugged and raped by Pelicot, along with 72 other men. Her bravery in speaking out and confronting her abusers had turned her into a feminist icon and a hero for women across France and beyond.
Pelicot's arrest and subsequent DNA testing also opened up new leads in other cold cases involving female estate agents. There were five other similar attacks between 1991 and 2004, including another murder. It raised questions about whether Pelicot could have been caught sooner, potentially preventing the horrific attacks on Gisèle.
The lawyer representing both the Narme family and Marion, Florence Rault, believes that Marion's escape was just a stroke of luck, and she could have suffered the same fate as Sophie if she hadn't fought back. Pelicot continues to deny any involvement in Sophie's case, claiming that he has 'nothing to do with it.' But the evidence speaks for itself, and the authorities are determined to get to the bottom of these heinous crimes.
As the investigation continues, the city of Paris remains on edge, wondering how many other innocent victims may have fallen prey to the 'Monster of Avignon.' Sophie Narme's family and friends are still seeking justice, and her memory lives on as a young woman who had recently returned from an 18-month trip to the USA, where she had been learning English. Her life was cut short, but her legacy will not be forgotten.
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