A 31-year-old man of French nationality was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and the involvement in the death of a 14-year-old girl named Vanessa. He had been living with his family in a southern French town at the time of the events.
A prosecutor in Agen, Olivier Naboulet, held a press conference on Saturday to share some details about the disturbing case that unsettled the nation, coinciding with nationwide demonstrations against sexism and violence. The public focused on the broader question of how such incidents are addressed by authorities and the community.
“Our first thoughts go to the young woman and her family,” the prosecutor stated.
Vanessa’s body was discovered in an abandoned residence in Birac-sur-Trec, near Tonneins in the south of France, where she had recently moved with her family and two brothers after emigrating from Spain about a year earlier.
The prosecutor explained that the teenager’s mother alerted gendarmerie services after Vanessa failed to return home from school on Friday. Surveillance footage helped identify a vehicle that the teenager might have boarded, which led investigators to the owner of the vehicle.
Authorities arrived at the suspect’s residence shortly before midnight on Friday. According to Naboulet, the suspect confronted officers and remarked, “I know why you are here.”
The man then directed investigators to the location where Vanessa’s body was found. Reports from BFMTV indicated that the suspect was taken into police custody after confessing to kidnapping and killing her.
At this stage, the prosecutor could not confirm whether a sexual assault occurred because forensic analyses were still ongoing. There was also no definitive statement on the exact cause of death, though some French outlets suggested drowning as a possibility.
According to official Spanish sources cited by EFE, Vanessa’s mother, upon receiving the news, was admitted to a hospital under significant psychological strain. There has been no further information released about the immigrant family at this time.
Early local reporting noted that Vanessa was enrolled in a special reinforcement class at the Tonneins institute to support non-native speakers, reflecting her short time in the country and the language adjustment she faced.
The 31-year-old suspect had a prior legal record: a 2006 sentence of 15 days in prison, with an order not to reoffend while under a probationary framework for a sexual assault offense committed when he was a minor at age 15. The prosecutor confirmed that the man was not listed in the national sex offender registry at the time of this case.
As investigations continue, officials reiterated their commitment to uncovering the full sequence of events and to supporting Vanessa’s family through this traumatic period. Caution remains as forensic work proceeds, and prosecutors hope to provide clearer answers in the days ahead. Markers from both national and regional media outlets and official statements are being cited to preserve an accurate narrative of the case while respecting all parties involved [Source: BFMTV; EFE; local authorities].