Uproar in France as it emerges suspect in case of missing girl had rape allegations dismissed

Interior minister announces review into handling of the cases after body reportedly found in search for 11-year-old Outrage has erupted in France after it emerged the main suspect in the case of an 11-year-old girl missing since last week had been repeatedly accused of sexually abusing children with no action taken. A body was discovered on Thursday and formal identification was under way, an informed source said. Dozens of police and volunteers have for days been combing countryside in south-western France to find the girl, who has been identified only by her first name, Lyhanna. She went missing on Friday near the village of Fleurance, and was last seen getting into a man’s car. A 41-year-old father of two has been detained as the key suspect. A prosecutor has said that previous legal complaints existed against the suspect accusing him of raping a minor, leading to a national uproar about alleged judicial failings. “What we’re discovering day after day is absolutely unbearable,” the government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said. “It raises a profound question: what importance do we give to victims’ testimonies? How are investigations conducted?” Bregeon told the Europe 1 and CNews br

Jun 4, 2026 → Jun 4, 2026