A new sordid case has shocked the French public: the disappearance and death of 11-year-old Lyhanna in the Gers, involving a man identified as dangerous who had previously preyed on young girls. The case highlights a series of administrative, police, and judicial failures that reveal the state’s inability to protect children from predators who have already been identified.
On 29 May 2026, Lyhanna went missing in Fleurance, in the Gers. Very quickly, the investigation focused on Jérôme Barella, the father of a friend of the victim, who claimed to have come across the girl, driven her, and dropped her off near the village swimming pool. Investigators noted several inconsistencies in his statements and examined various pieces of evidence, notably CCTV footage.
