Eleven-year-old Lyhanna has been found dead at a farm in Gers following her kidnapping in Fleurance, sparking a national outcry over ignored warnings regarding a repeat offender.
The Abduction and Discovery
11-year-old Lyhanna went missing on Friday, May 29, around 3:00 PM near her school in Fleurance. A witness reported seeing her enter a car driven by 41-year-old Jerome B., who was later arrested. While the suspect claimed he was merely driving the girl to a local pool, his inconsistent statements led prosecutors to charge him with kidnapping.
Authorities utilized drones, helicopters, and police dogs to conduct an extensive search. On Thursday, June 4, officials discovered a body at a farm in Gers, wearing clothing matching the missing girl’s. Formal identification is pending an autopsy.
A Known Predator
Lyhanna’s mother stated that her daughter knew Jerome B. through a friend and believed he was a trusted acquaintance, despite reports that he frequently gave the girl snacks. Investigations have revealed that Jerome B. was a subject of multiple prior legal proceedings.
One active case involves accusations of rape against a 10-year-old friend of his daughter between September 2024 and May 2025. Additionally, he was accused of raping a seven-year-old in 2024, though that case was dismissed, and he was previously fired from a school maintenance job in 2020 for inappropriate behavior.
State Dysfunctions and Investigation
The case has triggered sharp criticism of the French legal system, with National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet stating that the possibility of ignored warnings is “unbearable.” The mayor of Fleurance, Grégory Bobbato, labeled the incident a “dysfunction of the French state.”
President Emmanuel Macron has ordered rapid administrative investigations to determine individual and systemic responsibility. The Minister of the Interior announced that the General Inspectorate of Justice and the General Inspectorate of the National Gendarmerie will conduct a probe, with preliminary findings expected within 15 days.