The investigation into the disappearance of 11-year-old Lyhanna in Fleurance has taken a new legal turn. According to La Depeche du MidiA new complaint for "rape" was filed this Wednesday at the Auch gendarmerie by the father of an 11-year-old girl. It targets Jérôme B., 41, who has already been charged and placed in pre-trial detention in the case of the alleged abduction and confinement of Lyhanna.
A pajama party at the heart of the reporting process
The alleged events took place at the end of August 2025, during a "sleepover" held at the suspect's home in Montestruc-sur-Gers. The girl involved, who was in foster care in the Gers department, reportedly mentioned the events in February 2026 during a conversation with another child. Her father claims he was first informed of inappropriate touching, including... "Hands on buttocks" when her daughter came out of the water.
A suspect already targeted since August 2025
This new complaint is in addition to a previously known case: Jérôme B. has been the subject of a complaint since August 2025 for rape of a minor under 15 years of age, filed by the mother of a 10-year-old girl at the Plaisance-du-Touch gendarmerie. According La Depeche du MidiThe Toulouse prosecutor's office had been aware of the case in October, then relinquished it to the Auch prosecutor's office, as the reported events took place in Montestruc-sur-Gers.
Never heard of it in this case
A key point in the case: the suspect had not been questioned in the previous proceedings. The prosecutor of Auch, Clémence Meyer, confirmed that the case file was received by her office between November and December 2025, then forwarded to the Lectoure gendarmerie for investigation in January 2026. At this stage, Jérôme B. had still not been questioned about these accusations.
Lyhanna still nowhere to be found
Eleven-year-old Lyhanna has been missing since Friday, May 29, in Fleurance. Jérôme B. was formally charged on Monday, June 1, with "kidnapping and unlawful confinement of a minor under 15 years of age." During his initial hearing before the investigating judge, he remained silent. He had previously claimed to have dropped the teenager off at the swimming pool after she left school.
Justice under pressure
Faced with a surge in reports and delays in processing complaints filed in 2025, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the launch of an administrative inquiry to identify any potential malfunctions. This inquiry will be conducted by the General Inspectorate of Justice and the General Inspectorate of the National Gendarmerie.
