Lyhanna disappearance suspect was already under investigation for rape of a child, complaint filed nine months ago
Jérôme B., indicted Monday for the kidnapping of 11-year-old Lyhanna, had been the subject of a complaint for the repeated rape of a 10-year-old girl since August 2025. The investigation into those accusations remains preliminary and the suspect has never been questioned.
Disappearance of Lyhanna
Lyhanna, 11, has not been seen since Friday afternoon, when a witness observed her getting into a car outside her middle school in Fleurance, a town of about 6,000 inhabitants roughly 80 kilometres west of Toulouse. The man driving the car was Jérôme B., 41, the father of one of Lyhanna’s friends. According to a source close to the investigation, Lyhanna’s parents had distanced themselves from him after he hosted a pajama party for his daughter and her friends at his home.
Jérôme B. was arrested on Saturday and placed in police custody. On Monday evening at a court in Agen he was indicted for kidnapping and false imprisonment and remanded in pre-trial detention. During his initial appearance he refused to speak or answer questions. The Auch prosecutor, Clémence Meyer, earlier ruled out the hypothesis that Lyhanna had run away, noting that the suspect’s account of having dropped her off at the local swimming pool was judged “incoherent and imprecise.”
Prior rape complaint
A separate investigation had been open since August 2025 into accusations that the same man raped a girl, then aged 10, who was a friend of his daughter. The child’s mother filed a complaint on 22 August 2025 at the gendarmerie in Plaisance‑du‑Touch, near Toulouse. The Toulouse prosecutor, David Charmatz, confirmed to AFP:
The Auch prosecutor’s office states that the investigation is still at the preliminary stage and that Jérôme B. has never been heard or questioned. His lawyer, Me Vasquez, told BFMTV:A complaint was lodged on 22 August for the rape of a minor under 15 at the Plaisance‑du‑Touch gendarmerie brigade. An initial inquiry began, but because the alleged acts took place in Montastruc‑sur‑Gers, my office asked that the case be transferred to the Auch prosecutor, which has jurisdiction. The transfer was confirmed at the beginning of November.
My client remains presumed innocent. He has never been heard in the context of this investigation, he has never been questioned.
The complaining mother, who contacted BFMTV, expressed anger at the pace of the proceedings, believing that if her complaint had been handled more promptly, Lyhanna might not have disappeared.
- Rape complaint filed at Plaisance‑du‑Touch gendarmerie
- Toulouse prosecutor informed of the complaint
- Case transferred to Auch prosecutor's office
- Lyhanna last seen entering suspect's car outside her school
- Suspect arrested and placed in custody
- Suspect indicted for kidnapping and false imprisonment, detained
- Wide search continues with 200 gendarmes, drones, divers
Search efforts continue
On Tuesday, the search for Lyhanna continued with an expanded deployment. Approximately 200 gendarmes were mobilised, along with a mobile gendarmerie squadron, a helicopter, drones, and four divers exploring the rivers around Fleurance. The gendarmerie set up an operational base at the town’s cultural and sports centre, from where teams fanned out in about ten vans early Monday morning.
Judicial handling under scrutiny
The nine‑month gap between the rape complaint and any progress has drawn criticism. After the Toulouse prosecutor’s office was informed of the complaint on 15 October 2025, it transferred the file to Auch on 28 October 2025. Since then, no custodial hearing or formal charging has taken place, raising questions about why a man facing serious accusations was not detained earlier. Jérôme B. continues to deny any involvement in Lyhanna’s disappearance.
