Uproar in France as it emerges suspect in case of missing girl had rape allegations dismissed
Interior minister announces review into handling of the cases after body reportedly found in search for 11-year-old
TL;DR
- A body was discovered during the search for Lyhanna, an 11-year-old girl missing since last week in southwestern France.
- The main suspect, a 41-year-old father of two, is detained and previously faced multiple accusations of sexually abusing children.
- Previous complaints against the suspect, including alleged rape of a minor, were dismissed in 2018 and 2024 due to lack of evidence or consent.
- A new complaint was filed on August 22, 2025, accusing him of raping a child between September 2024 and May 2025, but police had not yet questioned him when Lyhanna disappeared.
- The situation has caused national outrage and calls for judicial reform, with the interior minister ordering an inquiry into the handling of the cases.