Suspected of having committed multiple rapes in the Bois de Vincennes in recent months, a man was arrested on August 22. He was then charged and placed in pretrial detention.
A man suspected of having committed multiple rapes, attempted rapes, sexual assaults and sexual exhibitions in the Bois de Vincennes in recent months was arrested by the 2nd judicial police district on August 22, BFM TV has learned, confirming information from TF1.
On August 24, the suspect was indicted by an investigating judge in Paris and placed in pretrial detention. He is a man born in July 1978 in Val-de-Marne, who had previously been convicted by the Val-de-Marne Assize Court in December 2015 for similar criminal acts.
Investigations are now continuing, under the direction of the investigating judge, and will aim in particular to determine whether other people may have been victims of the same suspect.
Seven cases of assault, rape or exhibition
The suspect was charged with seven counts including sexual assault and repeat rape between September 5, 2023 and August 19, 2024. The investigation was launched following multiple reports of acts committed in or around the Bois de Vincennes over a short period of time.
The recurring description of a man hiding his face behind a surgical mask and of a repeated method of operation led to suspicions being focused on the same probable perpetrator.
On August 19, 2024, the 12th arrondissement police station was contacted by Sentinelle soldiers, who took charge of a young deaf and mute woman who was clearly injured. She explained that she had been attacked by a man, who had started to pull down his pants and assault her before she managed to make him flee. The investigation was then entrusted to the 2nd judicial police district.
Using video surveillance, investigators quickly made a connection with a rape by fellatio brought to their attention, which was allegedly committed on May 28 also in the Bois de Vincennes by a man whose description matched.
At the end of May 2024, the director of the Atelier de Paris, located within the cartridge factory, also reported that several women had clearly been victims of the same attacker, when they had just left the establishment where they worked.
His criminal responsibility decided by the psychiatric expert
Other sexual assault investigations handled by the 12th arrondissement police station were also brought together. The 12th arrondissement police station continued to work with the 2nd DPJ on these investigations.
The suspect was arrested early on the morning of August 22 in the store where he worked as an order preparer. The psychiatric expert who saw him in police custody concluded that he was criminally responsible.
On August 24, 2024, the public prosecutor’s office opened a judicial investigation. On the same day, the suspect was brought before the investigating judge, who charged him, and presented to a judge of liberties and detention, who placed him in pretrial detention.
