French "Gregory Affair" Case Reopened Due to New DNA Evidence

Posted by Melissa Murfin Oct 23, 2009

Four-year-old Gregory Villemin was found dead with his hands and feet tied in the Vologne River near his home in 1984. A family member, Bernard LaRoche, was initially suspected in the murder, but later released due to lack of evidence. Gregory's father, Jean-Marie Villemin, took justice into his own hands and shot and killed LaRoche. Villemin served four years for the murder.

Gregory's parents had received an anonymous letter hinting of revenge after the child's death. The mother was a suspect at that time due to handwriting analysis suggesting she might have written the letter. She was cleared of wrongdoing in 1993. Now, trace DNA belonging to a man and a woman has been found on this letter. The DNA evidence does not match Gregory's father or mother.

Much was written in the French media about the Gregory Affair. Hopefully, new forensic technology will now be able to answer the question of Gregory's murder.