Victorine Dartois case: A distant neighbour indicted for rape attempt and murder

October 16, 2020 fasquelle

For the first time in the case, a suspect has been indicted for the murder of Victorine Dartois on Thursday 15th September after two days in custody.

The suspect is Ludovic Bertin, 25, married and father of a baby, already known to the police for different offences when he was younger. He was presented Thursday afternoon before the three investigating judges who indicted him for sequestration and murder preceded by attempted rape. For now, Ludovic Bertin has been placed in temporary custody until his trial.

During a press conference in the late afternoon, Boris Duffau, the assistant prosecutor said that the suspect “admitted having crossed Victorine’s path while jogging. An argument broke out after an involuntary jostle. He panicked and squeezed her neck. The autopsy revealed death by drowning, with marks on her neck confirming an act of strangulation.”

However, Ludovic Bertin denied having a sexual motive for the murder which didn’t convince the prosecutors. The family lawyer, Ms Monteiro said, “everything leads us to think his intentions were sexual before he strangled the victim”. No trace of sexual assault was found on Victorine’s body but her trousers had been taken off, which indicates a likely rape attempt.

This case remains mysterious in some areas and many think that Ludovic Bertin hasn’t said everything. There are doubts about the encounter and Ms Monteiro explained the family doesn’t believe in the defendant’s version as Victorine was very wary of unknown men “they don’t believe that she would have been able to get carried away just for an involuntary jostling”

Ms Monteiro, the family lawyer during the press conference // credit : Jeff Pachou – AFP

Last 28th September, Victorine Dartois, 18, was found dead in a creek in Villefontaine after being reported missing for two days. She was coming back home on the 26th September when she decided to take a shortcut through the forest and never arrived.

A white march had been organized on the 4th October to pay tribute to Victorine. To which Ludovic Bertin is said to have taken part before his arrest.