89 minors, 9 countries, 55 years: 79-year-old French man charged for raping teens, including in India among others

In an unusual move for the French justice system, authorities have revealed the identity of Jacques Leveugle to encourage more victims to come forward. Grenoble prosecutor Étienne Manteaux stated at a news conference, “This name must be known because the goal is to allow possible victims to come forward,” as reported by The Associated Press (AP). The suspect, who worked as a teacher, private tutor, and cave exploring guide, is accused of targeting boys aged 13 to 17 over more than five decades. The prosecutor emphasized the “urgency” of the situation on RTL radio, citing Leveugle’s advanced age and the difficulty of locating victims from assaults that took place up to 55 years ago.

How Jacques Leveugle got caught?

The investigation into the 79-year-old hinges on a massive digital trail found on a USB drive. According to AP, the device contained a 15-volume digital “memoir” written by Leveugle himself, detailing sexual acts with minors across several continents. These writings have already helped investigators identify 89 alleged victims, but efforts to locate more have been hindered by incomplete names in the texts. “We thought we would be able, internally, to identify all the victims,” Manteaux told reporters, but admitted that authorities eventually “realized we were up against a wall,” necessitating the public appeal.

Crimes spanning multiple countries including India and Morocco

The suspect’s writings describe sexual encounters in a wide array of locations, including Switzerland, Germany, Niger, the Philippines, and India. According to a written statement provided by the prosecutor to The Associated Press, Leveugle spent many years in Morocco working as a tutor for low-income families, where he is suspected of abusing at least 10 victims between 1974 and 2024. He also lived in Algeria during the late 60s and early 70s, where he reportedly worked as a teacher and is suspected of abusing at least two children. Leveugle was residing in Morocco when he was recently arrested during a return trip to France.

Parallel investigation into confessed family killings

Beyond the allegations of serial sexual violence, Leveugle has reportedly admitted to the deaths of two family members. According to the Grenoble prosecutor, the suspect acknowledged smothering his mother while she was in the terminal stages of cancer and later killing his 92-year-old aunt. Regarding the death of his aunt, Manteaux told AP that the suspect claimed he “put her to death” because he had to return to the Cévennes region and she had “begged him not to leave.” These admissions have prompted a parallel investigation to determine the exact circumstances of their deaths.

(With agencies inputs)