The gendarmerie’s failure in the case of missing 11-year-old Lyhanna sparks outrage

Flers — June 8, 2026: The town of Flers in southern France remains in turmoil following the mysterious disappearance of 11-year-old girl Lyhanna on May 29, 2026. The focus of the investigation is on 41-year-old local man Jérôme B, who has now been detained. Recent revelations about his past have sparked public outrage and raised serious doubts about the work of the gendarmerie.

As early as August 2025, the mother of a 10-year-old girl neighbor made multiple rape allegations against Jérôme B. The abuse allegedly took place over several months between 2024 and 2025, in the Mayenne department. Despite such serious allegations, the suspect was never questioned and the investigation never advanced.

The case was initially handled by the Gendarmerie of Pré-en-Pail-Saint-Samson until November 2025, when it was taken over by the Toulouse Public Prosecutor’s Office. In December of the same year, the case was transferred to the Alençon judiciary and finally returned to the La Ferté-Macé Gendarmerie in January 2026, yet Jérôme B was never formally summoned.

This oversight has deeply disappointed the victim’s family. The mother of the victim expressed dissatisfaction with the authorities’ lack of action. Her daughter had already raised some unusual questions regarding sexuality, causing the family significant concern, but this did not prompt a swift investigation.

In view of these serious shortcomings, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin have ordered a comprehensive administrative investigation aimed at identifying possible errors and negligence in handling the initial rape allegations. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the General Inspectorate of Justice and the General Inspectorate of the Gendarmerie.

Meanwhile, the investigation into Lyhanna’s disappearance is also in full progress. Jérôme B was detained on June 2 on suspicion of kidnapping and illegal deprivation of minors’ liberty. During his arrest, he gave contradictory and vague statements, further raising the investigators’ alert.

The residents of Flers are deeply shocked by this matter and are calling for a thorough investigation. One resident said, “It is shocking to see such negligence.” Lyhanna’s family still hopes that this painful wait will end quickly and that the case will be clarified.

The authorities are under great pressure to resolve the case quickly and transparently. Further investigations will determine the reasons for the delays and whether there were organizational shortcomings within the gendarmerie. This case highlights many challenges in handling sensitive cases involving the protection of minors.