Failures of the Gendarmerie in the case of Lyhanna's disappearance spark outrage

Fleurance – 06/08/2026: The small town of Fleurance, in the south of France, remains shaken after the mysterious disappearance of Lyhanna, 11 years old, on May 29, 2026. At the center of the investigation is Jérôme B., a 41-year-old man from the region, currently in pretrial detention. Recent revelations about his past have caused outrage and raise serious doubts about the work of the Gendarmerie.

Already in August 2025, the mother of a ten-year-old girl from the neighborhood had filed a complaint for repeated rapes against Jérôme B. The assaults allegedly took place over several months between 2024 and 2025 in the Gers. Despite these serious accusations, the accused was never questioned and the investigation never progressed.

The Toulouse prosecutor’s office only reopened the case in November 2025, after the complaint had initially been filed with the Gendarmerie of Plaisance-du-Touch. In December of the same year, the case was transferred to the judicial authorities of Auch then in January 2026 sent back to the Gendarmerie of Lectoure — without Jérôme B. ever having been officially summoned.

This failure deeply disappointed the victims’ relatives. The mother of the girl concerned denounced the lack of involvement by the authorities. Her daughter had already asked troubling questions about sexuality, which increased concern within the family, without triggering a swift procedure.

In response to these major shortcomings, the Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez and the Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin ordered a thorough administrative investigation. The goal is to clarify potential errors and negligence in the initial handling of the rape complaint. This investigation is being conducted jointly by the General Inspectorate of Justice and the General Inspectorate of the Gendarmerie.

Meanwhile, the investigation into Lyhanna’s current disappearance is proceeding intensively. Jérôme B. was detained on June 2 for kidnapping and unlawful confinement of a minor. Upon his arrest, he made contradictory and unclear statements, which further alarmed the investigators.

The residents of Fleurance are deeply disturbed by the events and are demanding full transparency. “It is frightening to see how such errors could have occurred,” a local resident said. Lyhanna’s family still hopes for a swift end to this unbearable wait and a resolution of the case.

The authorities are under heavy pressure to resolve this case quickly and transparently. Upcoming investigations must determine the causes of the delays and whether organizational shortcomings within the Gendarmerie contributed to this situation. This case highlights the challenges related to handling sensitive cases aimed at protecting minors.