“A very singular cold case in many respects”, that of the disappearance of Martine Escadeillas, recognizes the lawyer for the family of this young 24-year-old woman, who disappeared on December 8, 1986 from her apartment in Ramonville, in the suburbs. From toulouse. But whose epilogue is finally approaching since the trial of the alleged murderer of the secretary will take place from July 1 to 6 before the Assize Court of Haute-Garonne.
In the box, Joël Bourgeon, a father apparently without history, close at the time to the facts of the disappeared and her boyfriend. He was arrested in 2019 in Isère by the gendarmes of the Toulouse research section. The suspect first admitted his responsibility, evoking a romantic resentment, before going back on his confession.
The suspect recanted
“I remind you that we have no body, no motive, no DNA, and the only witness exonerates Joël. This man, who has never been convicted, is a father who, moreover, has always worked, ”recalled Eric Mouton, the suspect’s lawyer in January when he asked, in vain, for the release of his client placed in preventive detention in awaiting trial.
Martine Escadeillas never gave a sign of life again. Only traces of blood were found on the stairs and in the basement of his building.