France detains suspect, orders review after Lyhanna found dead
Why it matters: Officials disclosed multiple prior child abuse complaints against the 41-year-old suspect, fueling anger over missed warnings.
French investigators found a body believed to be 11-year-old Lyhanna in a silo on farmland near Puycasquier, a week after she disappeared near Fleurance in the Gers region. A 41-year-old man, identified by media as Jérome B., remains in custody after witnesses placed the girl in his car on May 29. The case has triggered national outrage after prosecutors and officials detailed several earlier accusations involving young girls, including an August 2025 rape complaint that was still under investigation when Lyhanna vanished. President Emmanuel Macron and Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin acknowledged failings, and Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is due to meet interior and justice officials on June 5.
Sources
- The Straits TimesNeutral80% reliableRead →Jun 5