What was almost a fantasy becomes an increasingly serious track. While the Est Républicain revealed on Thursday that a report had been made by a woman convinced of having seen Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès within a religious community in Montferrand-le-Château (Doubs), this same local newspaper asserts today today that two other people joined his report and claim to have recognized the man who has been missing since 2011.
The public prosecutor of Besançon Étienne Manteaux provided more details on these new elements to our colleagues. The facts date back to March 9, during a vigil of the community of Bethany sisters in Montferrand-le-Château. This religious order is known for advocating the reintegration of women leaving prison.
That day, “one of the members of the prayer group came with a man calling himself Jean,” explains the prosecutor. “He told him that he was part of the community of the
verb of life
, dissolved on July 1, 2023 (for spiritual abuse and phenomena of influence, according to the Est Républicain, Editor's note). Since then, he has explained to those present that evening that he was walking on the paths, aimlessly and had no identity.”
He got back on the road “without giving any explanations”
Having no place to sleep, the man was therefore sheltered on the evening of March 9, before being welcomed by a second person on March 10. He hit the road again the next day, “without giving any explanations about his journey”.
The behavior of this “Jean” questioned the religious community. On March 12, a first woman came to the gendarmerie to report her suspicions. “Seven people were heard in this prayer group” immediately, explains Étienne Manteaux. “Four indicated that they had found no resemblance between this man and Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès. Three said the opposite and think they recognized it.”
DNA analyzes in progress
On Thursday, investigators indicated that the woman's testimony had not been corroborated by another member of the community. There are now three people giving the same version of the facts.
“I opened an investigation into the causes of the disappearance. We will transmit the DNA results that we have taken to the Nantes investigating judge, in charge of the case,” concludes Étienne Manteaux to our colleagues. Glasses and cans used by the man who called himself Jean were taken.
Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès has been missing since 2011 and the death of his wife and four children at their family home in Nantes, a case in which he is the main suspect.