Paris, France – February 11, 2026 — A 79-year-old man accused of one of the most extensive and prolonged series of child sexual abuse cases in French criminal history has been publicly identified for the first time, following a decision by prosecutors to lift anonymity restrictions due to the gravity and scale of the allegations.
The suspect, named as François V. (full surname withheld in some reports pending further legal proceedings), stands accused of raping and sexually assaulting 89 boys between the early 1970s and the mid-2020s. The alleged offences span more than five decades and involve victims ranging in age from toddlers to teenagers. In addition to the sexual crimes, he is charged with the murder of two family members who prosecutors believe were killed to silence potential witnesses or cover up the abuse.
The extraordinary case came to light after years of fragmented complaints, suppressed testimonies, and institutional failures that allowed the suspect to evade justice for much of his adult life. French authorities formally charged François V. in late 2025 after a multi-year investigation that linked dozens of previously unconnected allegations through DNA evidence, witness statements, archived medical records, and digital forensics.
On Wednesday, the public prosecutor’s office in the jurisdiction overseeing the case took the rare step of releasing the suspect’s first name, age, and a recent photograph to the media, citing “the exceptional seriousness of the facts, the large number of victims, and the need for potential additional victims to come forward.” The decision breaks from France’s usual practice of protecting the identity of suspects before trial, especially in sexual offence cases, and reflects the view that public awareness could help identify further victims who may not yet have reported abuse.
According to the investigative dossier, the alleged abuse began in the 1970s when the suspect was in his 20s and continued intermittently until recent years. Prosecutors allege that he exploited positions of trust within family circles, local communities, religious organisations, youth clubs, and holiday settings to gain access to children. Many of the victims are now adults in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, some of whom only came forward after reading media reports about similar high-profile abuse scandals in France and abroad.
The two murders allegedly committed by the suspect are said to have occurred in the 1980s and early 1990s. Prosecutors claim both victims were relatives who had either witnessed or begun to question the pattern of abuse within the family. One victim was reportedly killed in a staged accident, while the second death was initially classified as a suicide before being reclassified following new forensic analysis and witness statements obtained decades later.
François V. has denied all charges and is currently held in pre-trial detention in a high-security facility. His defence team has argued that the sheer length of time covered by the allegations makes accurate recollection and evidence preservation difficult, and that some accusations may be contaminated by media coverage or suggestion. The suspect is expected to face trial in a special assize court, where the most serious criminal cases in France are heard by a panel of professional judges and lay jurors.
The public identification has triggered widespread shock, anger, and calls for accountability across France. Victims’ rights organisations have praised the prosecutor’s decision to name the suspect, arguing that it may encourage more survivors to come forward and help expose any institutional failures that allowed the abuse to continue unchecked for so long. Several support groups have established dedicated hotlines and legal aid services specifically for individuals who believe they may have been victimised by the accused.
The case has also reignited national debate about the statute of limitations for sexual offences against minors (which was significantly extended in 2017), the handling of historical abuse complaints, and the responsibility of families, schools, churches, and community organisations to protect children from predatory behaviour.
Investigators continue to appeal for any additional victims or witnesses to contact the dedicated judicial police unit handling the case. Authorities have stressed that all reports will be treated with the utmost seriousness and confidentiality.
As the legal process moves forward, the identification and photograph of the 79-year-old suspect mark a turning point in what prosecutors describe as “one of the darkest and most protracted child abuse cases ever uncovered in France.” The coming months are expected to bring further revelations as the investigation deepens and the trial date approaches.
