Death of Elisa Pilarski: DNA tests on known dogs by summer

The results of DNA analyzes carried out on 67 dogs potentially incriminated in the death, in November, of Elisa Pilarski in a forest of Aisne, are " expected by the end of the first half, " said the prosecutor's office of Soissons on Monday. " In view of the costs, the terms of execution of the requested missions and the proposed return deadlines, a laboratory has been retained by the judge to carry out the analyzes, the conclusions of which are expected by the end of the first half of 2020, " declared in a press release the public prosecutor Frédéric Trinh.

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A source familiar with the matter had told AFP on Friday that the estimate of the private laboratory initially requested by the investigating judge had been refused because of its too high cost (" 200,000 euros "). Leaving for a walk on November 16 with her dog Curtis, Elia Pilarski, 29 years old and pregnant, had been found dead in the Retz forest, where a hunting with hounds was organized in parallel. According to the autopsy, the death was caused by " a hemorrhage following several bites " from one or more dogs.

To identify the responsible animal (s), genetic samples were taken from 67 dogs: the 5 American Staffordshire of Elisa Pilarski and her companion Christophe Ellul, and 62 others belonging to the Rallye la Passion association. " The findings of the veterinarian who examined the Curtis dog ," said the public prosecutor, " made it possible to identify several skin excoriations on his muzzle and the muzzle ."

" In addition, two incidents of behavior were noted after the death of his mistress: two people were thus seized by clothing during the behavioral analysis while another person was bitten in the pound where the dog is kept " , he added.