Murder of Lyhanna: Jérôme B. had clean record despite four complaints over child sexual abuse
The suspect in the abduction and death of Lyhanna, 11, in Fleurance (Gers) had no criminal history despite multiple reports.
A discreet temporary worker targeted by four complaints, never convicted
Held in pre-trial detention for the abduction of Lyhanna in Fleurance, in the Gers, Jérôme B. had a clean criminal record at the time of his arrest — despite several complaints and reports of rape or sexual assaults against minors, according to lanouvellerepublique.fr.
The 41-year-old man led an uneventful life in Montestruc-sur-Gers, a village of 600 inhabitants located seven kilometres from Fleurance. He lived there with his wife and two children aged 7 and 11. His daughter was a close friend of Lyhanna, also aged 11.
A professional path in the school sector
Born in 1985, Jérôme B. attended Cadours secondary school in Haute-Garonne in the late 1990s, before going to Pardailhan vocational school in Auch. This information appears on his profile on the Copains d'avant website.
He recently worked for a temporary employment agency based in Auch, which had directed him towards an agricultural cooperative. It was on a disused site belonging to this cooperative that Lyhanna's body was found on Thursday.
Before this assignment, the suspect had held several positions as a general maintenance worker in educational establishments, according to the Occitanie Region. Five years ago, he had been dismissed from Lectoure secondary school in the Gers, "following a disciplinary procedure after a report of inappropriate behaviour towards a female pupil", the Region stated.
Present during initial searches
On 29 May, Jérôme B. participated in early evening in the initial search organised in Fleurance to find the girl. Gendarmes arrested him the following day. Investigators suspect he abducted Lyhanna on the same day, around 3 p.m., after a camera filmed her boarding his vehicle.
Facing investigators, he denies any involvement in the girl's death. During his first interrogation before the investigating judge at the Agen prosecutor's office, the suspect refused to answer any questions. Following this hearing, he was placed under investigation for abduction and unlawful confinement.
Doubts expressed by Lyhanna's family
According to the victim's father, both girls attended the same secondary school. On BFMTV, the family's lawyer, Maître François Roujou de Boubée, indicated that Lyhanna's parents had ended "all contact" with the suspect after harbouring "some doubts" about his behaviour during a "sleepover" organised at his home.
Four complaints, two reports
The revelation of complaints prior to Lyhanna's disappearance sparked a national controversy over alleged failings in the justice system. In the context of a complaint filed in 2025 for rape, Jérôme B. knew he was the subject of the proceedings. According to a source close to the case, he had harassed the parents of the presumed victim and begged them to withdraw their complaint, claiming to be very attached to their daughter.
Another young girl is said to have recognised her attacker's face in photographs of the suspect released in connection with the Lyhanna case; she is reporting incidents dating back to 2023, France Télévisions learned from a source close to the case.
In total, Jérôme B. is now the subject of four complaints and two reports for offences of a child sexual abuse nature — without any of these proceedings having resulted in a conviction before his arrest.
Source: Google News BE FR