Two families decimated by the hand of a man, each established in a comfortable pavilion, only 4 km away in the heart of the Nantes agglomeration. By its geographical proximity and its setting, the quadruple murder of the Troadec family, whose assize trial opens this Tuesday, obviously evokes the quintuple homicide of the Dupont de Ligonnès family nearly six years earlier. But the disturbing similarities do not end there. “This affair immediately echoed that of the Dupont de Ligonnès. There are indeed many points in common, ”is surprised Jean-Michel Laurence, co-author of works on the two criminal episodes.
To begin with, the parents were almost the same age at the time of the events (49 years old for Pascal and Brigitte Troadec, 50 and 48 years old for Xavier and Agnès Dupont de Ligonnès), the children too (20 and 18 years old for Sébastien and Charlotte Troadec, 21 and 18 years old for Arthur and Thomas Dupont de Ligonnès). Arthur Dupont de Ligonnès and Sébastien Troadec also attended the same private high school in Vendée (Saint-Gabriel). The two families were discreet, with no known problems from the neighborhood.
A cleared crime scene, an organized leak
In both cases, the perpetrator went to great lengths to remove the bodies, clean up the crime scene and erase the traces. “The same disappearances of objects are reported, especially computers without their connections left in place. In both cases, an entry key is found outside, in the letterbox at the Troadec’s, in an EDF box at the Dupont de Ligonnès’, underlines the journalist. The two criminals tried to cover their tracks, like the letters written by Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès or the car of one of the victims deposited in Saint-Nazaire by Hubert Caouissin.
In both cases, the police are also “8 to 10 days behind the perpetrator” on the run. A decisive delay for Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès, whose trace could never be found, but which was not enough for Hubert Caouissin, rather quickly suspected and then indicted. “The lessons of the Dupont de Ligonnès affair have obviously been learned,” considers Jean-Michel Laurence. From the outset, the case of the missing in Orvault was taken seriously. From the first police visit to 24 rue d’Auteuil, clues are gathered. Scientists are summoned in the wake. And very quickly, they realize that the pavilion has been the scene of episodes of violence. “
” Appearances are deceptive “
In both situations, the killing of several people, then the discreet disappearance of the bodies, seems to be an extraordinary feat for a criminal acting alone. However, the investigation revealed that Hubert Caouissin benefited from the support of his partner, Lydie Troadec, to move the corpses from one city to another. The investigation especially considered that Hubert Caouissin had taken action without premeditation, which constitutes a major difference with Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès, suspected of having methodically planned the assassinations.
Finally, the gap between the savagery of the crimes and the peaceful appearances of the two families necessarily calls out. As does the existence of an underlying family secret. “Like the Dupont de Ligonnès affair, the Troadec affair is above all a family tragedy,” analyzes Jean-Michel Laurence. It is out of the ordinary by the gap that exists between the banality of this lambda family, which looks like everyone else, and the horror of the facts. Appearances are deceptive: within the Troadec family a progressive psychological warfare was played out (around the supposed stolen treasure), inevitable, to a point of no return. As if everything had been written in advance. “
The trial of Hubert Caouissin and Lydie Troadec is to last until July 9.