Mar 7, 2023
Chevaline …the forgotten victim … Sylvain Mollier … Xavier Baligant killing … so similar …
The Chevaline massacre, which occurred in a beautiful and tranquil area of France, has left many shocked and saddened. The incident involved the shooting of four people, including a cyclist named Sylvain Mollier, who was overlooked by the media. Updates on the investigation have revealed new details and speculation about the case.
Sylvain Mollier – An Innocent Bystander
Sylvain Mollier, a 45-year-old local man, father of three and cycling enthusiast, was on his normal bike ride when he came across the massacre of the Al-Hilli family. He became an eyewitness to the tragedy and had five bullets in his body, including one in his head. Sadly, he had no chance of survival. His companion became worried when he did not return from his bike ride and went to the police, who later confirmed his death. Mollier was an employee with the company Crezus, which supplies equipment to nuclear power plants. The latest update reveals a troubling point that he also worked for the nuclear industry.
New Witness and Investigation
Philippe D, along with two friends, drove up the mountain road to camp and came across the RAF man descending the road on his bike. The RAF man was perturbed and in a panic and tried to tell them about the bodies inside and outside a car. The three drove back up the road with the RAF man, and after seeing what had happened, Philippe D drove back down to get a signal for his mobile and summoned assistance. They were later taken to the spot to re-enact their movements. The investigation is being handled by the Ministry of Defense, not the Ministry of Interior, ensuring secrecy.
The Murder Weapon
The gun used in the shooting was a Czech-made CZ50 7.65 mm, 8 rounds magazine capacity gun. It was manufactured in the 1940s and used by the Czech police, but considered too light for the Czech army. The gun used in this shooting was an ‘old’ model, leading to speculation about the identity of the perpetrator.
Timeline and other details
Update on the investigation
The investigation into the Chevaline murders has been frustrating for both French and British investigators, as they have not disclosed any information about their progress. Lieutenant Colonel Vinnemann, one of the investigators from the Gendarmerie, explained that they need to match or add to the information they have. The investigators’ silence has led to journalists seeking out any possible source of information, including the Mayor of Chevaline, who expressed some degree of discontent over the probing.
In the first hours after the shooting, more maps had to be taken out and studied to establish whether the lieu of the crime fell in the community of Chevaline or Doussard. Chevaline is 2 kms (1.2 miles) south of Doussard, and the investigation was for the gendarmes as the Al-Hillis were murdered in a community of fewer than 20,000 souls. The Gendarmerie hierarchy of this case includes Colonel Bertrand François, head of the Upper Savoy gendarmerie, and Lieutenant Colonel Benoît Vinnemann, head of the local Annecy gendarmerie.
Update: Monday, October 22, 2012
Eric Devouassoux, the prosecutor leading the investigation, said on Monday that tests on a motorcycle found near the crime scene revealed no traces of DNA.
This has led investigators to conclude that it may have been stolen and abandoned by the killer or killers. The motorcycle was found a few miles from the murder site in a forest car park.
Investigators have not yet identified any suspects or motives for the attack.
Meanwhile, the little girl, Zainab al-Hilli, has been discharged from the hospital and is said to be doing well. She is now in the care of her maternal aunt and uncle, who live in Surrey, England.
Update: Wednesday, November 7, 2012
The investigation into the Chevaline killings has taken a new turn with the arrest of a former police officer in France.
The suspect, named as 48-year-old Eric Devouassoux, was detained by French police at his home in the town of Menthon-Saint-Bernard, near Annecy. He is reported to have previously worked as a municipal police officer in the town of Talloires, which is near to the murder scene.
According to media reports, Devouassoux was previously questioned by police in the days after the murders and gave a DNA sample, but he was not considered a suspect at that time. However, investigators reportedly became interested in him again after he was discovered to have purchased a number of weapons just weeks before the attack.
It is not yet clear what role, if any, Devouassoux may have played in the killings, and he has not been formally charged with any crime. He is currently being held in custody while police continue their investigation.
Update: Monday, February 18, 2013
The investigation into the Chevaline murders has taken another twist with the release of a police sketch of a possible suspect. The sketch, based on the recollections of a British cyclist who was near the scene at the time of the attack, shows a man with a trimmed beard and a helmet. The cyclist has said that he saw the man cycling up the hill away from the murder scene shortly after the attack.
French police have released the sketch in the hope of jogging people’s memories and getting new information about the case. They have also launched a new appeal for witnesses, offering a reward of €10,000 ($13,500) for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.
Meanwhile, investigators have reportedly traced the serial numbers of the two guns used in the attack to a shop in Switzerland. The shop owner has said that he sold the guns legally to a man from the French region of Haute-Savoie in 2008, but he could not remember the man’s name. The guns were reportedly modified after purchase to increase their firepower.
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