Uproar in France as it emerges suspect in case of missing girl had rape allegations dismissed
Summary
In south-western France, an 11-year-old girl named Lyhanna went missing and a man suspected of kidnapping her had previously faced several rape allegations, but no legal action was taken. Authorities found a body while searching for the girl, and there is public anger about how the earlier cases against the suspect were handled.Key Facts
- Lyhanna, an 11-year-old girl, disappeared near Fleurance after getting into a man’s car.
- A 41-year-old man with two children is the main suspect and has been detained.
- Police and volunteers searched the area, including using horses and divers.
- The suspect admitted giving Lyhanna a ride but said he dropped her off at a swimming pool.
- There were earlier complaints against the suspect for raping minors that were dismissed or not fully investigated.
- One complaint involved a 17-year-old who later said she consented, leading to the case being dropped.
- Another complaint from 2022 accused him of raping a child under 15 but was dismissed due to lack of evidence.
- A recent complaint from 2025 accused the suspect of raping a girl born in 2014; investigation was ongoing when Lyhanna disappeared.
- The French interior minister has ordered an inquiry into how these cases were handled.
- Activists have called for stronger laws to stop sexual violence, pointing to failures in the justice system.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.