forensic expertise reveals the hypothesis of death by strangulation with a cloth bag

The first results of the autopsy on Lina’s body helped direct the investigation towards the hypothesis of death by asphyxiation.

Two months after the discovery of Lina’s body, forensic expertise reveals the hypothesis of death by strangulation with a cloth bag of the 15-year-old girl who disappeared in Alsace, BFMTV learned from a close source of the investigation, confirming information from Alsace.

Examination of his body did not reveal any other violence, of a sexual nature for example. However, this same source qualifies BFMTV for the definitive and perfectly exhaustive aspect of these conclusions, to the extent that the deterioration of the body, in particular due to the fact that it remained in the water, complicated the task of the experts of the IRCGN.

“A strangulation maneuver”

“The autopsy operations did not make it possible to formally determine the cause of death”, but the hypothesis of death by drowning was ruled out, said the Strasbourg public prosecutor in a press release published Thursday evening.

The magistrate also mentions elements which “tend to demonstrate” that Lina’s death “resulted from a strangulation maneuver using the handles” of a “tote-bag type” bag.

Furthermore, “no trace of narcotic, medicinal or toxic substances” was found and “genetic analyzes carried out on the clothing” were negative, according to the press release.

The body discovered a year after his disappearance

Lina’s body was discovered on October 16 in Sermoine-sur-Loire in the Nevers region (Nièvre), more than a year after her disappearance on September 23, 2023.

The main suspect in this case, Samuel Gonin, committed suicide last July, without being able to give his version of the facts to investigators. His vehicle, where the young Alsatian’s DNA and handbag had been spotted, was geolocated not far from the place where the body was discovered.

“To date, all the elements are in favor of solitary action on the part of Samuel Gonin,” indicates the press release from the prosecution. “No link has been established between this and other facts of a similar nature.”

The first results of the autopsy of Lina’s body had made it possible to direct the investigation towards the hypothesis of death by asphyxiation, the young girl showing marks on her neck. But additional expertise was launched to confirm this hypothesis.