An elderly man, 82, and a woman, 60, are accused of abducting and subjecting a woman to torment over a period of five years.
The 45-year-old victim was allegedly held captive in Saint-Molf, on France’s Brittany peninsula, by her housemate and the housemate’s significant other. According to French reports, the victim, described as “psychologically fragile,” was found and taken to a hospital suffering from hypothermia.
Prosecutor Antoine Leroy of Nantes revealed that the victim was compelled to reside in the garden or a garage adjoining the residence where the two suspects lived.
The woman managed to escape when the man was engrossed in watching TV and fled from the confinement she had been kept in. She sought refuge at a neighbor’s window, nearly unclothed, and disclosed that she had been held captive for five years.
The victim recounted that she initially shared an apartment with another woman in the house until the arrival of the man. Subsequently, she was instructed to vacate the house and live outdoors, in a tent, or in a garage attached to the property. A search of the premises substantiated her claims.
It was reported that the victim was frequently confined in the garage, where she slept on a deckchair under extremely precarious conditions, as stated by the prosecutor.
“She was forced to use a potty or plastic bags for personal needs. Her diet consisted of porridge mixed with dish soap, and she was prevented from leaving,” the prosecutor added.
The victim had been out of contact since April 2022, coinciding with her divorce, with her bank accounts showing limited activity except for substantial payments made to the suspects, as per LeParisien.
The elderly man and woman were apprehended at the conclusion of the previous week and purportedly confessed to the fundamental allegations but attempted to diminish their severity.
They have been formally charged with kidnapping involving torture or acts of cruelty, carrying a potential life sentence. Additionally, they face charges of exploiting a person’s vulnerable state, both psychologically and physically, and taking advantage of a vulnerable individual.
The man has been placed under judicial supervision, while the woman has been detained pending further legal proceedings.