BOURGES, FRANCE – Monique Olivier, the widow of a French serial killer, has been found guilty for her involvement in the rape and murder of two young women and the disappearance of a 9-year-old girl. Earlier this month, Olivier admitted her role in the 1990 rape and murder of British student Joanna Parrish by her former husband, Michel Fourniret. She was also convicted in connection with the killing of 18-year-old Marie-Angele Domece in 1988 and the disappearance of 9-year-old Estelle Mouzin in 2003.
The 75-year-old Olivier, who is already serving a life sentence issued in 2008, now faces a second life sentence, with a minimum term of 20 years. Prior to his death in 2021, Fourniret confessed to being solely responsible for the fates of Domece and Parrish. The couple worked together to abduct and murder at least eight girls and young women over a 16-year period, and they were finally stopped in 2003 when a 13-year-old girl they were trying to kidnap managed to escape.
The known victims of Fourniret, beyond Parrish, Domece, and Mouzin, were Isabelle Laville, Fabienne Leroy, Jeanne-Marie Desramault, Elisabeth Brichet, Natacha Danais, Celine Saison, Mananya Thumphong, and Farida Hammiche. All the victims were either shot, strangled, or stabbed to death, with most of the crimes taking place in the Ardennes region of northern France and in Belgium.
Fourniret and Olivier were extradited to France for trial, and six of the victims were French citizens. Before his death, Fourniret said, “I am the only one responsible for their fates… If those people had not crossed my path, they would still be alive.” Meanwhile, Olivier described herself as a dog during cross-examination and asked for forgiveness from the families of the victims.