A devastating family drama has unfolded in France, centered around Gisèle Pelicot, a 71-year-old woman who was systematically drugged and sexually abused by her former husband, Dominique Pelicot, and dozens of men he recruited online over a decade.
Dominique Pelicot was initially caught after a security guard discovered him filming under women’s skirts. Subsequent investigations revealed a horrific pattern of abuse. He had been drugging his wife and organizing multiple men to sexually assault her while she was unconscious, meticulously documenting these crimes by filming and categorizing the videos on his computer.
During the trial in Avignon, Gisèle Pelicot waived her anonymity, allowing the public to witness the extent of her trauma. Video evidence clearly shows her unconscious while her husband directs men to assault her. She described herself as being treated “like a rag doll, like a garbage bag.”
The abuse’s impact extends far beyond Gisèle. Their daughter, Caroline Darian, 45, confronted her father in court about disturbing photographs labeled “My naked daughter” that appeared to show her semi-naked and drugged. Despite Dominique’s denials, Caroline accused him of looking at her “with incestuous eyes” and shouted that he would “die lying.”
The family’s other children, David and Florian, also testified, revealing deep emotional wounds. Florian, 38, questioned his paternity and spoke of his marriage’s collapse after discovering his father had secretly photographed his wife. David, 50, described how his childhood memories had been “erased” by his father’s actions.
Naked photographs of family members were found in Dominique’s files, including images of David’s pregnant wife taken surreptitiously in the bathroom and pictures of other family members.
The trauma has affected multiple generations. David’s 18-year-old son now questions interactions with his grandfather, while Caroline’s young son struggles to comprehend the revelation of his grandfather’s crimes.
The trial has exposed not just individual acts of violation, but a systemic pattern of abuse. Of the 50 men on trial alongside Dominique Pelicot, only a handful have admitted to rape, and more than 20 remain unidentified.
Dominique Pelicot faces up to 20 years in prison, the maximum sentence for rape in France. A verdict is expected on December 20th.
The family’s lawyer, Stéphane Babonneau, poignantly noted the profound suffering caused by familial sexual abuse, emphasizing that the trauma will continue long after the legal proceedings conclude.
A haunting photograph discovered in one of the videos symbolizes the family’s shattered past: a picture of the Pelicots smiling together on a sunny beach, now a stark contrast to the horrific reality that was unfolding behind closed doors.
