One of France’s biggest unsolved cases has been solved. The case, which spanned more than three decades and included at least six rapes and four murders, resulted in years of investigations and a nationwide manhunt. Now, DNA evidence has led to the arrest of a former police officer.
Investigators had summoned 750 current or former officers for questioning this week. One of the officers was found dead in an apartment in a French resort. He was later identified François Vérove, known by locals as Le Grêlé – a pockmarked man. He had been declared missing by his wife.
DNA taken from Vérove’s body revealed traces of genetic material found at the crime scenes during the 1980s and 1990s. After 35 years of investigation, authorities in France discovered that a former police officer was responsible for the kidnappings and murders of young girls, many of whom were prostitutes.
On April 8, 1986, a man posing as a police officer abducted and raped a young girl in her apartment building’s elevator. He then strangled her. A month later, 11-year-old Cecile was murdered in Paris. Her half-brother came across the suspect and provided investigators with a sketch.
The case was reopened in 1996 after a genetic analysis revealed new evidence. The same DNA profile was used to kill a German woman in 1987 and her employer. A 14-year-old girl was also kidnapped in 1987. In another case, a teenager was raped and killed in a forest.
Over the years, the investigators could not find the culprit. Eventually, magistrates took over the case. The office of France’s prosecutor praised the efforts of Nathalie Turquey, an investigator whose goal was to keep the case alive.
