In this episode of SERIALously, the disturbing case of Dominique and Giselle Pélicot is explored. Their marriage involved years of financial struggles and hidden abuse, as it's revealed Dominique secretly drugged Giselle for over a decade, rendering her unconscious while inviting at least 52 men to sexually assault her.
The podcast summary details Dominique's methodical criminal activities, the network of accomplices involved, and Giselle's unimaginable trauma as she uncover the assaults. It examines the couple's family life and Giselle's courageous decision to testify against Dominique and the other defendants at trial, empowering other victims in the process.
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Dominique and Giselle met in Paris in 1971 when they were 19, marrying quickly at 21. They had three children together (Caroline, David, and Florian) and faced financial difficulties over the years, even divorcing in 2001 for financial reasons while continuing to live together, later remarrying. After retiring to southern France, Giselle began experiencing unexplained health issues like memory loss that doctors couldn't diagnose, unaware these were side effects from being drugged and sexually assaulted by Dominique.
Since 2012, Dominique had been secretly drugging Giselle, rendering her unconscious to allow multiple men to sexually assault her while he recorded the attacks, according to Annie Elise. The abuse spanned a decade from 2011 to 2020, involving at least 52 men assaulting Giselle thousands of times. Dominique meticulously documented everything, labeling files with dates and details like the names of those involved. Giselle was unaware of any of this due to the medication-induced blackouts.
Dominique was part of an online chat room where members discussed assaulting partners without consent. Through this, he invited other men to drug and assault an unconscious Giselle. 51 men were eventually indicted after the investigation revealed their involvement, with some assaulting her multiple times - the assailants included a range of community members like firefighters, ex-cops, and even neighbors. While some claimed ignorance or "games," others like Jean-Pierre tried blaming Dominique, though some did express remorse.
After the abuse was uncovered due to Dominique's secret recordings of other women, Giselle chose to publicly identify herself and testify against him and the other defendants to prevent such crimes and help empower other victims. Her children, like Caroline, have also testified about the family's trauma. The ongoing trial involves Dominique and 50 other defendants, with some continuing to make excuses. Yet Giselle remains steadfast, receiving public support as the trial is expected to continue until late 2024.
1-Page Summary
Dominique and Giselle Pelleco's relationship started in a romantic fashion as they met in Paris in 1971, but their life together was filled with both love and complexity.
Dominique and Giselle met in a Paris region when they were just 19 years old. They married quickly, at the age of 21, and established a family with the birth of their three children: Caroline, David, and Florian.
The family had its share of financial challenges, yet Dominique and Giselle managed to maintain a stable home life for their children. They faced their economic challenges as a team, which included Giselle working and saving money for over 20 years.
A unique twist in their life came about in 2001 when they divorced due to financial reasons but continued to share a home. This living arrangement showed the strength of their connection, and they remarried after a few years.
Upon retiring, Dominique and Giselle settled in Maison, a peaceful village in the south of France. Despite Dominique's real estate income being impacted by the 2008 financial crisis, Giselle's savings allowed them to purchase a beautiful home.
However, retirement brought unexpected challenges as Giselle sta ...
Dominique and Giselle's marriage and family life
Dominique's heinous acts against Giselle, stretching over a decade, involved drugging, recording, and facilitating repeated sexual assaults without her knowledge.
Dominique had been preying on Giselle since 2012, culminating in his arrest in 2020 when DNA evidence linked him to an earlier attack on another victim, Estella, in 1999. Dominique filmed himself and others assaulting an unconscious Giselle over the years. Assailants adhered to a strict routine, such as warming their hands and avoiding scented products, to keep Giselle from waking.
Dominique instructed men to assault Giselle without using condoms. Annie Elise specifically mentioned that Giselle, drugged by her husband Dominique, was unconscious during these assaults, which were meticulously recorded. Investigations showed photos of Giselle appearing asleep during the sexual acts, confirming her unawareness. Dominique and another assailant, Jean-Pierre, would carry out assaults in a similar manner on another victim, Celia, as well.
Giselle was entirely unaware of the attacks and the recordings due to the medication-induced blackouts. Dominique's computer contained a folder labeled "Abuses" with thousands of photos and videos of a clearly unconscious Giselle. Up to 20,000 different pieces of media pointed to the abuse's duration and severity, documenting the long-term tragedy she endured.
Dominique meticulously documented the assaults, indicated by the detailed labeling of files, though the exact number of assailants is not mentioned in the content provided. The evidence suggested the abuse was widespread and systematic, including a range of assailants aged 25 to 70, highlighting the disturbing scope of Dominique's crimes. Law enforcement discovered extensive visual documentation of the acts that spanned nearly ten years.
Dominique's crimes against Giselle, including the drugging and repeated assaults
The case of Dominique's heinous crimes is both shocking and extensive. Dominique, through an online chat room, facilitated the sexual assault of Giselle by numerous men over a protracted period, leading to a significant investigation with startling findings.
Dominique's role in the abuse was buttressed by an online chat room where members exchanged methods and experiences of sexually assaulting their partners. It was through this community that Dominique not only found like-minded individuals but used the forum to broadcast his actions, showcasing his abuse of Giselle. The chat room also acted as a venue for Dominique to recruit men to participate in the assaults, which involved drugging Giselle into unconsciousness.
The subsequent investigation led to the indictment of 51 men, not including a 52nd man who died before he could be arrested. The thoroughness of the investigation was highlighted by a significant report spanning 370 pages. Dominique's meticulous labeling of the assault files facilitated the identification of assailants, despite the investigation spanning two years. These assaults, which began in July 2011 and ended in October 2020, totaled 92 by 72 different men, Laying bare the systematic abuse Giselle endured.
These crimes spanned a cross-section of society, with the assailants including a diverse group of community members. The professionals, ranging from a firefighter to a former law enforcement officer to a soldier, misledly claimed they believed that the encounters we ...
Dominique's network of accomplices and the investigation
Giselle has taken a stand by publicly identifying herself and testifying in a trial involving Dominique and a number of other defendants, demonstrating her fortitude and commitment to justice.
Giselle made the choice to go public with the trial and her identity to empower other women who have suffered similar experiences and encourage them to come forward. Her hope is to provide a voice for those who may feel compelled to remain silent due to shame or fear. She bravely left Dominique, filed for divorce, and the divorce was finalized on the first day of his trial on September 2, 2024.
Giselle's resolution has been supported by her children, including her daughter Caroline, who courageously testified about the trauma inflicted upon their family. Caroline shared a disturbing incident when she found pictures of herself drugged, suspecting she might have been sexually assaulted.
The trial involves Dominique, Jean-Pierre, and 49 other defendants. While Lionel expressed regret for his involvement, apologizing directly to Giselle, and Jacques similarly admitted guilt, not all defendants have shown such remorse.
Giselle's courage and the ongoing trial
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