This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43065000
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Maëlys de Araujo: Remains of missing French girl found | Maëlys de Araujo: Remains of missing French girl found |
(1 day later) | |
The remains of a nine-year-old girl who disappeared in the French Alps last August have been found, officials say. | The remains of a nine-year-old girl who disappeared in the French Alps last August have been found, officials say. |
Ex-soldier Nordahl Lelandais, 34, admitted killing Maëlys de Araujo "involuntarily", without giving details. Both were guests at a wedding. | Ex-soldier Nordahl Lelandais, 34, admitted killing Maëlys de Araujo "involuntarily", without giving details. Both were guests at a wedding. |
He agreed to co-operate with the police after tiny traces of her blood were found in the boot of his Audi car. | He agreed to co-operate with the police after tiny traces of her blood were found in the boot of his Audi car. |
The girl went missing in Pont-de-Beauvoisin, north of Grenoble. Her remains were found near the village. | The girl went missing in Pont-de-Beauvoisin, north of Grenoble. Her remains were found near the village. |
Nordahl Lelandais said he "got rid of the body" and offered his apologies to the girl's parents, said Grenoble prosecutor Jean-Yves Coquillat. | Nordahl Lelandais said he "got rid of the body" and offered his apologies to the girl's parents, said Grenoble prosecutor Jean-Yves Coquillat. |
He had previously admitted that Maëlys was in his car on the night she disappeared. | He had previously admitted that Maëlys was in his car on the night she disappeared. |
The girl's mother, Jennifer Cleyet Marrel, addressed a bitter Facebook message to Mr Lelandais. | The girl's mother, Jennifer Cleyet Marrel, addressed a bitter Facebook message to Mr Lelandais. |
"We had to wait five and a half months for this monster to finally speak... Maëlys will haunt you nights and days in your prison," she wrote in French. | |
"My little angel, I couldn't protect you from this predator, and this guilt will continue for a long time." | "My little angel, I couldn't protect you from this predator, and this guilt will continue for a long time." |
A wedding guest | A wedding guest |
Maëlys was last seen in the early hours of 27 August in the children's area at the wedding venue. | Maëlys was last seen in the early hours of 27 August in the children's area at the wedding venue. |
On Wednesday Mr Lelandais led investigators to an area near his parents' home at Domessin, not far from Pont-de-Beauvoisin. | On Wednesday Mr Lelandais led investigators to an area near his parents' home at Domessin, not far from Pont-de-Beauvoisin. |
The search for her remains took police an entire day, involving sniffer dogs working in the mountain snow. | The search for her remains took police an entire day, involving sniffer dogs working in the mountain snow. |
After her disappearance, police questioned all 180 guests, and identified inconsistencies in Mr Lelandais' statements. | After her disappearance, police questioned all 180 guests, and identified inconsistencies in Mr Lelandais' statements. |
He was charged a week later, after police discovered DNA belonging to Maëlys on the dashboard of his car. | He was charged a week later, after police discovered DNA belonging to Maëlys on the dashboard of his car. |
Since then, Mr Lelandais has maintained his innocence, claiming that although the girl may have been in his car, that did not prove his guilt. | Since then, Mr Lelandais has maintained his innocence, claiming that although the girl may have been in his car, that did not prove his guilt. |
He was also reported to have spent hours cleaning his car the next day with powerful detergents - something he said he was doing to prepare it for sale. | He was also reported to have spent hours cleaning his car the next day with powerful detergents - something he said he was doing to prepare it for sale. |
According to French media reports, Mr Lelandais made a confession in prison on Tuesday, after traces of Maëlys' blood were found in his car. | According to French media reports, Mr Lelandais made a confession in prison on Tuesday, after traces of Maëlys' blood were found in his car. |
Still reticent | Still reticent |
France's Le Parisien newspaper reports that Mr Lelandais refused to provide details about the girl's death, beyond his insistence it was accidental. | France's Le Parisien newspaper reports that Mr Lelandais refused to provide details about the girl's death, beyond his insistence it was accidental. |
A prosecutor, quoted in the French press, said that after Maëlys' death, her body was taken to a location near Mr Lelandais' home. He apparently returned to the wedding for some time, before later recovering the remains and burying them in the Chartreuse mountains. | A prosecutor, quoted in the French press, said that after Maëlys' death, her body was taken to a location near Mr Lelandais' home. He apparently returned to the wedding for some time, before later recovering the remains and burying them in the Chartreuse mountains. |
The police investigation included mining his computer and phone for information. | The police investigation included mining his computer and phone for information. |
Those trawls revealed that, after the disappearance of 23-year-old soldier Arthur Noyer in April 2017, Mr Lelandais searched the internet for "human body decomposition". | Those trawls revealed that, after the disappearance of 23-year-old soldier Arthur Noyer in April 2017, Mr Lelandais searched the internet for "human body decomposition". |
Mr Noyer's skull was found by a walker on 7 September in Montmelian, 16km (10 miles) from Chambéry. Mr Lelandais lived with his parents, 30km from Chambéry. | Mr Noyer's skull was found by a walker on 7 September in Montmelian, 16km (10 miles) from Chambéry. Mr Lelandais lived with his parents, 30km from Chambéry. |
He admitted being in the area where Mr Noyer disappeared but denied any involvement in the killing. He was charged in that case in December. | He admitted being in the area where Mr Noyer disappeared but denied any involvement in the killing. He was charged in that case in December. |
Mr Lelandais has been questioned about a number of other missing persons in the region. | Mr Lelandais has been questioned about a number of other missing persons in the region. |