A chilling tip-off and a mysterious disappearance | Forensic Files

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file today is unfortunately our last episode this year but don't worry we'll be back
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have a great Christmas a Happy New Year and we'll see you again soon our episodes deal with serious and often
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on Monday May 2nd 2005 28 year-old Elodie Morel raided her closet looking for the perfect outfit she settled on
skinny jeans a billowy white shirt cream-colored knitted sweater and a pair of high heels delicately she styled her
hair and applied makeup ensuring she looked flawless it was a big day for Elodie the start of a new life and she
wanted to look her best a waitress from the port city of Marseille in southern France Elodie had worked in restaurants
and bars most of our adult life but she had grown tired of the long nights unpredictable work hours constant shift
changes unruly customers and low pay there was time for a career change with an avid interest in fashion Elodie
decided to follow through on her lifelong dream to become a model others considered her a natural beauty and
modeling was a lucrative business in France considered the ultimate fashion destination the country's home to iconic
fashion houses such as Chanel Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior however Elodie had no modeling experience she
had never even had her photo taken by a professional photographer no one influential in the industry knew her
[Music] despite Paris being oversaturated with unknown models trying to break into the
industry Elodie was strong-willed and determined to give it a shot in April 2005 Elodie created an online
profile on a modeling casting site and attached several candid photos of herself
scanning various job websites looking for work Elodie applied for any opportunity she could follow but by late
April she had little success undeterred she kept applying and one afternoon while she scold down the classified ads
website Viva Street a new job opportunity popped up on her feed fashion photographer nicole forest the
heir who worked for the reputable photography agency Dukas was seeking models to front and advertising campaign
for the luxury car rolls-royce with several new cars true for Elise rolls-royce was offering an
all-expenses-paid five-day photo shoot for three models in the Camargue region in the South of France the landscape in
the Camargue region was the ideal backdrop for the high-end car with striking large lagoons circled by red
covered marshes and a shoreline framing the Mediterranean Sea the photo shoot was scheduled between the 3rd and 7th of
May 2005 payment was 1,000 euros per day plus all expenses paid including travelling expenses on set catering all
meals accommodation and downtime activities additionally he had detailed an opportunity for the selected models
to travel to the United States at a later date as the ambassadors of rolls-royce it was the job ellaby had
been dreaming for 5000 euros for five days work was unlike anything she had ever earned before realistically she
knew her chances of getting the job were low this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity competition would be fierce
every model in France would be sending through their portfolios for a chance to represent rolls-royce yet Elodie wasn't
going to be intimidated by the odds stacked against her with a few happy snaps and humble online
profile she applied for the job she received an email response within a day anticipating a rejection Elodie was
completely shocked at the read the Rolls Royce representative chose three models
for their advertising including you it seemed too good to be true but e-mails back and forth to lead photographer
Nicole Forrest the heir confirmed it Elodie had a look they liked and wanted Elodie continued corresponding with
Nicole for sta Irv Irene our leading up to the shoot and Forrest years assistant
along the cast caught already personally to arrange a meeting the meeting was planned for 6:00 p.m. on may 2nd the
night before the photo shoot started Elodie was told to meet Nicole Forestier at the stopover bar in the town of egg
Maude it wasn't far from the Camargue region where the photo shoot was to take place the photo shoot was all Elodie
talked about at a family gathering days before the trip relatives noticed she was the happiest they had seen in a long
time [Music] the night prior to the meeting with forest the air elodie packed a small
luggage bag with spare clothes shoes and night wear in the early afternoon on may
2nd 2005 with her favorite outfit on and hair and makeup perfect Elodie carried her luggage I saw it and placed it into
the trunk of her black 1995 BMW sedan after a long goodbye to her partner 25 year-old Sylvain Racine and the longer
goodbye to their four-year-old son Elodie left for the opportunity of a lifetime
heading west into the sprawling French countryside Elodie drove past the modest limestone mountains surrounding the
atang to Bear lagoon beyond there she steered around the border of the expensive Camargue wetlands before
moving through plains of sprawling vineyards in volver weather warm spring air carried the fruity aroma of ripening
grapes Elodie was far too excited to slow down and take in the beautiful country scenery she didn't want to be
late for the meeting with photographer Nicole Forrest the air and make a bad first impression Elodie might have been
inexperienced in modeling but she carried herself like a professional shortly after 5 p.m. after about a
two-hour drive Elodie reached her destination the small town of Egmont on the southern coast of friends almost 700
kilometers south of the capital city of Paris and more is located on flat marshes against the Mediterranean Sea
there was built upon relics and features striking 13th century architecture with
the town centre surrounded by medieval stone wall Elodie turned her car into a large parking lot that was packed an
influx of city dwellers and foreign tourists had flocked to Egmont the day before was May 1st May Day and
as the national holiday fell on a Sunday the scheduled public day off was that day Monday May 2nd thousands of visitors
had flocked to the small seaside town for the long weekend Elodie found an empty spot to park a car there was a
fair distance away from the stopover bar so she collected her black leather bag and began the long walk by near the Sun
Hovind low above the horizon and street lights began to flicker on the stopover bar is a yellow painted building next to
the northern entry into the wall township directly opposite a canal large boats floated down the wide canal loaded
with tourists on deck watching the sunset local florists wandered the promenade selling sprigs of the white
bell-shaped voila lily of the valley a local symbol of springtime of had between loved ones around may day as a
lucky charm Elodie took a seat alone at a table on the front terrace of the stopover bar
exactly as she being told to do the bar was relatively busy with people pouring in for dinner and drinks as the Sun set
it was approaching 6 p.m. and Elodie had no idea what Nicole Forest the air looked like but she knew the
photographer would be able to recognize her when she arrived minutes later an older man approached the ladies table he
called led by name she didn't recognize the man and she looked at him confused he had wrinkled teemed skin a
gap-toothed smile and short hair he introduced himself as a LAN locust elodie clicked straight away the cast
was Nicole Foresti as a system Elleni had spoken to him over the phone several times leading up to the photoshoot and
it was he who had called her and arranged the meeting at the stopover bar the cast was apologetic and explained
that Nicole Forrest the air was busy preparing for the photoshoot and had instructed him to modality in her place
LOD found herself instantly reassured by his friendly demeanor he took a seat and
the two began to chat about the photoshoot meanwhile almost twenty kilometers away the telephone at the AG
morte police station rang the answering officer listened as a panicked male caller warned a guy who just left my
place is about to kidnap a girl he's armed and I think he's about to do something horrific
[Music] [Music] the caller 63 year old Dominic Carrasco was well known to local police
a scrap merchant by trade at nine Tarasco ran an unlicensed than illegal bar in an old cabin on his country
property outside of act naught police had threatened to shut down his backyard bar but Orosco made them a deal
he would become a police informant and give intel on local thugs and Crimson of his bar and in return
police would turn a blind eye to his illegal operation it was a win-win for both parties the deal proved worthwhile
for police Tarasco tips had led to several arrests from car thieves to minor drug traffickers
however Terrace goes frantic call on the afternoon of May 2nd 2005 was the first
time he had contacted them about a crime as serious as kidnapping Carrasco his voice was shaky as he told
police about a conversation he had with a friend at his bar earlier that afternoon from their conversation
Carrasco believed that his friend was about to hurt a woman he said his friend was a violent and he owned and carried a
handgun Tarasco nervously rambled on using words like pimping sex work and abduction
tarrasque owes history as a trusted police informing gave officers no reason to doubt his claims and they wondered if
his friend had links to the illegal sex trade they pressed him for more information they needed names visual
descriptions who to look for where to go but despite terrace goes initial willingness the talk he stopped
short of naming his friend who was planning the kidnapping he feared reprisal no offers of protection could
convince Tarasco to hand over his friends name whoever he was he was dangerous enough to scare Tarasco into
silence Carrasco did offer police the location of where his friend was headed though he said he was meeting the
unsuspecting woman on the terrace of the stopover bar Tarasco also gave police a
description of his friend's car a green 1994 ciated be thir time was running out if this kidnapping was about
to take place police didn't have time to bigger with tourists go for information for officers
split between two cars and headed straight to the stopover bar they arrived around 6:15 p.m. they kept a low
profile with lights and sirens off so they didn't know where the kidnapper they quickly realized that searching for
the unknown suspect and victim along the promenade was an impossible task the area was packed with people enjoying the
last night of the long weekend there were couples everywhere and police had absolutely no idea who they were looking
for two of the officers entered the stopover bar they purchased the drink age and took a seat together out on the
terrace they drank and spoke casually appearing as two off-duty officers grabbing a social drink after work but
discretely they kept a close watch on the couples around them the mood in and around the bar was good-natured no women
appeared uncomfortable scared or unsafe no one drew their attention meanwhile the other two officers
remained outside the bar they kept a lookout for the suspects car as described by Tarasco the green 94c at
Ibiza as one officer kept watch of the passing traffic the other searched the parking lot an hour passed and neither
the car or the suspect couple was spotted police started to wonder if Terris Co had been mistaken they called
him to confirm what little information they had was correct as police confirmed the description of the suspects green
94c a to be thorough terrace go filled his stomach drop he had described the wrong car to police he said his friend
actually drove a gray 1994 Citron's and ex police were frustrated to learn they'd
been looking for the wrong car the entire time after another search of the area the gray Citroen ZX was nowhere to
be seen the race against time to save a young woman from her kidnapper came to a
sudden halt police were at a dead end with Tarasco refusing to give them a name or any more details there was
little else they could do they returned to the station and waited around to see if any local women were reported missing
but no such calls came in two days later on the afternoon of Wednesday May 4th a
25 year old men entered a police station in the city of Marseille 180 kilometers
from Eggman the men Silvan Racine was uneasy and visibly anxious he hadn't heard from his wife Elodie Morelle since
the night of May 2nd when she left home to meet up with a fashion photographer in Agra more it was unusual for Elodie
not to keep in touch they kept in contact everyday many messages and unanswered calls later sylveon was
convinced something bad had happened to his wife the last text he received from her was sent on May 2nd at 9:30 p.m.
several hours after she had met with the photographer at red big kiss everything
is going well I'll call you tomorrow when I can hugs and kisses talk later as police
started questioning Sylvain further they suspected there was more going on with a
married couple than what the man was willing to discuss sylveon explained that they met in 1995 Elodie shared an
apartment with a friend of sylveon's and when Sylvain first met her he was instantly drawn to her self-reliance and
resilience they started dating and by 96 towards the end of the first year of their relationship that were married in
2011 for pregnant and the couple had a son together motherhood changed Elodie she wasn't
particularly close to her own mother who she felt never understood her their strange relationship was a catalyst for
Elodie moving out of home at 14 years old when Elodie son was born she was determined to raise him in a safe happy
and a loving home the type of home that she never had police continued probing Sylvain for more information they felt
he was withholding something after dancing around the topic for a while he finally admitted his relationship with
Elodie had deteriorated and they were in the process of a divorce stresses and disagreements had led to heated
arguments and to Elodie foresaw the toxic home environment she was nurturing her son Ian was turning out to be the
exact type she suffered through and devoured to never create Elodie and sylveon accepted that their relationship
wasn't working and after a long candid discussion they agreed to separate Sylvia insisted that their separation
was amicable according to him they were now getting along better than ever they still had disagreements but argued
much less the pair decided it would be best for their son if they continued living together as a family they didn't
want him to deal with the trauma of a divorce and being forced to move between two separate houses are such a young age
and since things were getting better between them they believed they could still live together even though they
weren't a couple anymore sylveon even continued to financially support Elodie as he worked a full-time office job and
she only worked part-time at a bar when Sylvain found out Elodie had been one of
three models chosen to run an advertising campaign for rolls-royce her enthusiasm convinced him that job was
legitimate but in hindsight he suspected that the whole thing was an elaborate online scam he worried the Elodie had
been trapped by a gang who targeted women on Lauren and feared who was being transported across the country perhaps
to be sent abroad as a sex slave police are sylveon why he would allow Elodie to meet with a stranger she had
met online by herself sylveon responded that he trusted Oni she was no fool but seemed perfectly safe for her to meet a
woman in a public place at a reasonable hour the last text elodie sent did not read as though she
was in danger Marseille police considered more logical explanations for her lack of contact perhaps she was
somewhere with no phone reception maybe her mobile phone battery died and she had forgotten to pack a charger or
maybe she had lost her phone there were a multitude of simple and innocent reasons as to why sylveon may not have
heard from his ex-wife but Sylvain was unconvinced Elodie knew his number if something had happened to her phone she
would have used someone else's phone to get in touch marseille police were still
doubtful they considered there was another far more realistic explanation for elytis disappearance the Sylvian
wouldn't allow himself to contemplate Elodie an unhappy wife determined to make big changes in her life may have
run off with another man but Sylvain instantly dismissed that suggestion he assured police their split was amicable
Elodie could commence a new relationship without issue from him there was no reason for her to run away plus there
was no way she would have been in her son Marseille police thought it reasonable to sit on the case for a
little longer before filing a missing-persons report the situation didn't seem urgent to them the Sylvian
demanded they do something they finally relented and typed up a report detailing
a description ability the sequence of events leading up to her supposed disappearance and her last known
whereabouts once a complete they faxed the report to other police stations across the South of France
agate mortar police were continuing to keep an eye on missing-persons reports in case anything came in and matched the
story they'd been given by Dominic Tarasco two days earlier Tarasco was still refusing to give the name of his
friend he suspected was going to kidnap a woman from the stopover bar and no further information had come to light
but AG what police kept their eyes open [Music] when Marseille police fax through the
missing person report they had taken felony Morel AG nought police immediately felt uneasy LEDs last known
location was in Ag more on the night of May 2nd she had scheduled a meeting with
a stranger at the stopover bar at 6:00 p.m. that night there were striking similarities between the events
surrounding the disappearance of Elodie Morel and the call they had received from Dominic Terrace Co two days earlier
about a potential kidnapping Egmont police contacted sylph and for more information regarding his wife a sylph
an explained led story in detail that appeared consistent with Terris ghost story police considered the possibility
that the two stories were actually one and the same despite going doubtful of Terrace Co story now that there was a
potential victim egg more police started taking the situation very seriously they are Sylvian to come into the
station after the nearly two hour drive through dark rural roads between marseille and dog mornin sylveon arrived
at the police station around 2:00 a.m. he brought photographs ability pictures of her on their wedding day
pitchers holding their son cooking in the kitchen with family and two lounging around an outdoor patio with friends in
each photo she was happy even when she was unaware the camera was on earth she was always smiling
Sylvain gave police a description of LEDs black 95 BMW sedan a copy of the emails between her and photographer
Nicole for SD air a list of items she had taken with her for her trip and her mobile phone number
LEDs phone was going straight to voicemail so it was either turned off or destroyed
however police were able to go back and track the signals off phone towers to follow her movements up until the time
her phone went off as expected her phone emitted a signal from AG more on the evening of May 2nd confirming she made
it to the small town for the meeting afterwards her phone emitted a signal from sensual about a 30 kilometer half
an hour drive north east of act more sensual is located on the western edge of the Camargue region
this showed Elodie was heading in the direction of where the photo shoot was to take place strangely a short time
later her phone emitted a signal from volver volver is an 18 kilometer 20 minute drive in the opposite direction
it was shortly after arriving at 4 ver that leds mobile phone signal dropped out and it hadn't come back up since
[Music] police felt it would be impossible for them to conduct a thorough search for
led in an area and act more since you involve air it was too big of an area only one person could help them now
Dominique Tarasco they called Paris Co and asked him to come into the station he arrived at 8:30 a.m. on May 5th and
he brought with him a startling story one the police found hard to believe on the evening of May 2nd after Tarasco had
called AG morte police to report the suspected kidnapping he drove into town he had dinner and a few drinks to take
his mind off things hours later he drove the long rural road back to his country property in the
distant darkness he noticed flashing red-and-blue lights it was two police cars parked blocking the road several
police officers were standing around the vehicles Tarasco thought a large-scale operation was in place to search for the
kidnapped girl he had phoned up about that evening he pulled his car to the side of the road and got out to see how
the search was going even though he had not fully cooperated and kept his friend's name to himself Tarasco
hoped that they had managed to find his car the officers watched as terascale approached them he was distressed
throwing his arms about asking what was happening if they had found the car if they had caught him the police were
perplexed they had no idea what he was talking about they were just performing routine traffic checks smelling alcohol
on Terrace cows breath they assumed the old man was just drunk and disorientated
a car slowly approached the roadblock while Tarasco was talking to the officers Tarasco recognized the vehicle
immediately a gray 1994 Citroen ZX the car his friend drove with the police officers distracted by Terrace Co the
car was able to slowly maneuver around the roadblock without being stopped terrace co saw his friend in the
driver's seat dread has seeped into his body when he saw who was in the passenger seat a woman with long dark
hair eyes closed her head leaning against the inside of the door as though she were asleep the car passed the
roadblock and drove off terrace Co started getting more erratic telling police to go after it and arrest the
driver but he didn't say why then Terrace goes mobile phone rang he answered Tarasco was terrified when he
recognized the voice on the other end who was his friend the kidnapper the one who had just driven past with a woman in
his car had he seen Terrace Co on the side of the road speaking with police apparently not the friend had only
called to warn Tarasco about the police roadblock leading up to his property he told Terrace go to be careful and then
hung up as Tarasco told this unbelievable series of events to investigators that act morte police
station they sat stunned they didn't believe it what were the odds that Terrace Co approached the
roadblock effectively distracting the officers at the exact same time the kidnapper drove past
why didn't Aris go tell police of the roadblock about the kidnapped girl why was he only telling them this
information now three days later terrico said he had been too frightened as his friend was a psychopath skeptical
investigators were able to confirm their work routine traffic checks occurring at
the location terrace Cosette on the night of May 2nd investigators spoke to the officers who were working the
traffic stop and nearly fell over when the officers had knew exactly what they were talking about they recalled Tarasco
approaching them he was frantic about something not making a lot of sense he seemed too drunk a car drove past
while they were dealing with him and he received a call not long after the car drove past Terrace Co was telling the
truth his description of the unconscious woman in the car strongly matched the appearance of
Elodie Morello there was no mistaking the driver as being anyone but terrace Co his friend since he called Terrace Co
shortly after the roadblock to warn him about it police were now convinced terrace goes
friend had abducted Elodie Morel and their patients had running out they demanded a name
police threatened to Terrace Co stating no it arrest him he would wind up in prison and the girl
would die if he didn't give up his friend's name under the intense pressure Tarasco finally broke crying
he gave them the name Guillaume mangu forty nine-year-old Guillaume mangu had a long sordid criminal history in july
87 he spotted two young female hitchhikers wandering along the side of the road he pulled over and offered them
a lift the women were tourists from Germany and spoke little French but mango was
friendly they trusted him and got in his car they had no idea he was intentionally taking them in the
opposite direction to where they wanted to go at the end of an isolated dirt property in Commerc he stopped the car
and pointed a gun at them he raped both women throughout the night before leaving them in the middle of
nowhere and driving off a month later in August Mangal was again cruising the long rural roads in southern France near
Commerc and again he came across two young female hitchhikers tourists from Italy like the previous crime mango
drove his victims to an isolated area of Camargue before threatening them with a
gun when he attempted to ride one of the women they fought him off and escaped [Music]
in 1988 mango was convicted and sentenced to serve eight years imprisonment for his crimes
psychological assessments of mango revealed his predisposition to impulsive 'ti in violence manipulative and
seductive tendencies narcissism and attraction to weapons he lacked the vulnerability guilt
compassion and an ability to take criticism assessments concluded that he's antisocial and deviant behaviors
were neither curable or correctable after he's released mango was soon back in prison for property and firearms
offenses after that sting he visited an old friend and asked for work Dominique Tarasco Tarasco knew mango was
a violent convicted criminal who made no secret of the fact he always carried a weapon if refused anything mango would
erupt in an explosion of violence so when he asked Terrace go for work the old man felt compelled to agree for his
own safety he hired mango to work as a bouncer at his backyard bar where he's threatening
and violent behavior could be put to some use on the afternoon of May 2nd 2005 mango was at Terrace ghost bar the
place was quiet so people recalled seeing him there speaking to Terrace Co at 5:30 p.m.
Mingo left he bragged he had the honor an appointment to meet a beautiful girl he met online they were going to have a
date at the stopover bar there was something about the way men Gore spoke and the words he used that made Tarasco
incredibly uncomfortable about the situation knowing mangos history and knowing he was carrying a gun Terrace
cows gut instincts told him the woman he was meeting was in danger the uncomfortable feeling nagged at Orosco
and he decided the phone police after checking mangos criminal history it was no great leap for investigators to make
him their number one suspect however the investigation was built on the forced testimony of terrace CO and what could
have meant to nothing but a series of coincidences they needed concrete proof that mango had kidnapped early
investigators visited the stopover bar and questioned staff about Guillen mango the bar owners confirmed that mango was
a regular customer furthermore two witnesses recalled seeing mango at the bar on the night of May 2nd at 6:00 p.m.
they both have vividly remembered the North because mango was usually alone but on May 2nd he was in the company of
a young woman police had no way to locate mangu he traveled frequently crashed on other
people's couches and spent long nights in seedy bars and nightclubs he could have been anywhere so they created a
trap to bring him in police made Tarasco called mango and get him to meet up for
a few drinks mango agreed to the meet at La Mexicana na Club in Montpellier a 30-minute drive
west of act more mango was familiar with the club as he previously worked security there police took up hidden
positions around the parking lot and waited a short time later a white van rolled in police observed the vehicle
and to their surprise they confirmed mango was in the passenger seat the driver was an unknown older male who
looked to be in his 50s the van pulled into a parking spot and its engine clicked off while officers kept watch
was led in the van Mangal exited the vehicle and police swooped immediately he tried to run but he was tackled to
the ground other police approached the van weapons raised the older male driver climbed out he cooperated and raised his
hands in the air he identified himself as Richard linear a construction worker who lived in the local area Linea didn't
have a record he was completely unknown to police he said he had no idea what was going on he
was just there for a drink with a friend police formed a circle around the van they swung the back doors open and
peered into the rear compartment it was empty there was no sign of Elodie they searched mangu and found no weapons just
his wallet mobile phone car keys and a pack of cigarettes they flipped through his wallet and found a small amount of
money his ID and a credit card in the name of Elodie Morrell man God was quick to explain he fee onto the card on a
table at the stopover bar a few days earlier with no owner in sight he kept it with the intention of returning it to
the bank the following day but he had forgotten all about it in another area of the parking lot police questioned the
driver of the van Richard Lanier linier lived in the small town of ver gets with
his wife and teenage daughter he said man Gor was a longtime friend who had been staying at his home the last few
days Bangor would often visit the linear household during his travels stay a few
nights and then move on police were highly suspicious of both men men girls excuse for being in
possession of a lady's credit card was shaky at best and linear lived in vergas and eight kilometer 15 minute drive
Northwest from the town of volver volver was the last known location of leds mobile phone before it was switched off
police arrested and handcuffed both men with the intention to take them to the station for further questioning
however they were making a stop on the way Richard líneas Harris in Vegas when police stormed the linear home they
were confronted with the scene most would recall as one of the most bizarre and surreal experiences in their
policing career richard líneas wife Francine and their teenage daughter were sitting together at the dining table
eating dinner when armed groups of police burst into the house neither Francine or her teenage daughter
reacted instead they continued to eat their meal in silence as though the armed shouting police officers weren't
there at all the strange non reaction of the linear women unsettled police there was almost
as if they were expecting them a sinister atmosphere lingered in the quaint family home police carefully
searched each room not knowing what they were walking into still unsettled by the
detached non-reaction from the linear women they checked under beds in closets behind hanging clothes and any other
hiding space they could find evidence of leds presence started to appear throughout the home a black leather bag
floral dress two pairs of high-heeled shoes and a black sweater were all items that matched descriptions of clothing
melanie had packed for her trip most tellingly was a mobile phone found in possession
of líneas teenaged daughter there was Oh at ease they also found a handgun tucked away in a drawer the
handle was stained with dried blood police arrested the linear women as well it was approaching 8 p.m. on May 5th
when mango and the linear family arrived at the police station questioning mango proved difficult he
was a master manipulator and he stuck solid to his story he maintained that he found a lady's credit card of a stopover
bar and that he didn't meet or see her there during that time police could contradict a lot of his statements with
the evidence they already had by mango didn't budge from his story so investigators turned their attention to
the linear family but they proved to be a problem as well they skirted around questions with flimsy and done detailed
answers denying any knowledge ability or her whereabouts despite evidence in their own home suggesting otherwise
as police chipped away at them they realized that Richard was the more fragile investigators set their sights
on breaking him with each passing hour of interrogation Richard líneas anxiety heightened investigators could tell he
was on the verge of cracking and today shifted their tactic from coddling Richard to confronting him I know when
she know an officer screamed you'd know what happened as expected Richard linear broke down it
wasn't him he told police key on mango turned up at his house at 6:00 a.m. on the morning of Tuesday May 3rd whilst he
and his family were having breakfast mango stormed inside carrying a gun and said he needed somewhere to hide he had
a girl in the trunk of his car and he wanted to hide her in their garage 500 meters from the Lanier's home was an
isolated garage with a presents en floor Richard linear allowed mango to hide in
his garage he unlocked it and watch Bangor drive-in when God then asked for cable ties which Ben Yair supplied lock
the garage on your way out mango ordered linear did as he was told he didn't ask questions
Linnea walked back to his house cleaned up got dressed and headed into work for the day he was aware of mangas criminal
history and knew the man to be violent and dangerous however at no point during the day did
he feel compelled to contact police about what was happening in his garage after Richard linea spoke to police his
wife Francine started talking as well her version of events were identical to her husband's she also detailed a
conversation she had with mangu on the night of Tuesday May 3rd Francine said at 6:00 p.m. Bangor came back to the
house he asked for a bottle of water indicating that the girl was thirsty he told me that he had made her sniff the
white piata I understood that he had drugged her Francine Ling yeah provided mango with a
plastic bottle full of water like her husband she made no attempt to contact police she was afraid mango would hurt
her daughter if she did anything to upset him two hours after asking Francine for
water mango reappeared at the house wanting dinner this time he was carrying various items a black leather bag a
floral dress two pairs of high-heeled shoes a black sweater and a mobile phone he offered the items to Francine Ling
near as a gift Francine didn't ask questions she accepted the items and handed the mobile
phone to her daughter as she needed a new one mango then started to worry that his prisoner would identify him to
police and it was at this point he first mentioned the killing her when Francine
asked how he would do it mango wrapped his hands around his neck [Music] after learning the Lanier's had cracked
and made a statement to police men golf finally agreed to make a statement of his own he admitted to posting a fake
casting call online for a photo shoot in the Camargue region he posed as a female
photographer named Nicole Forrest the air and researched enough information to make the photoshoot appear authentic
Mangal was surprised when Elodie Morell responded to the phony offer he put the blame on OA t he says she should have
realized there was a scheme due to the exaggerated nature of the opportunity men Gor claimed to be Forest years a
sister he contacted led by phone and convinced her to go to Egmont under the pretense
of meeting Forrest the air Elodie wasn't to know she was actually meeting with a
convicted kidnapper and rapist when Elodie met men Gor at the stopover bar he offered to take her on a tour of the
countryside to see the various locations for the photo shoot Elodie agreed she texts her husband to let him know
everything was going well as he had done before Bangor drove his victim down rural roads near kamar each turn led
further into isolation roads so remote they didn't even have streetlights not a single car passed them when he felt he
was far enough away Bangor pulled out his gun he demanded a lady's credit card Elodie raised her hands defensively and
pushed him away it was well known that if refused anything languor would erupt in an explosion of violence she made a
gesture that are interpreted as an attack mango etad police I reacted instantly he lifted his pistol in the
air and with angry violent force he slammed the guns handle down against elytis head he then slammed her against
the passenger side door several times until she stopped for tea elodie handed mango her credit card and
told him the pin number to go with it then Bangor claims he let it go he used a lady's credit card to purchase fuel
and cigarettes and to withdraw 140 euros these actions were confirmed in bank statements linked to the credit card and
security footage around the ATM where he withdrew the cash main Gord denied the líneas version of events involving naega
Raj captivity drugs and threat of strangulation according to mango the purpose of his
elaborate online scam was simply to steal a lady's credit card once he got what he wanted he let her go police knew
mango was full of [ __ ] but when threatened he got extremely defensive and stuck solid to his story so
investigators took a different approach they stroked his ego and made him feel comfortable and free to talk to them
slowly they're faint patience and understanding paid off mango finally admitted he didn't release Elodie after
she gave him her credit card his new version was that he took her to the líneas garage to hide out for the day as
he didn't want to release Elodie until late at night when less people would be out and about
mango said they smoked cigarettes together in the garage they chatted and they even joked around Elodie was free
to walk around to the garage he didn't tie her up he didn't touch her when night fell he left the garage with
Elodie to take her back to her people at some point during the late night drive through the Camargue countryside Bangor
asked led if she wanted to take over driving she accepted and a mango pulled over as the two walked around the rear
of the car to swap places Elodie bumped into mango and he fell over infuriated mango spotted a thin plastic cord on the
ground near boy he picked it up and strangled OD hours later mango returned to the linear house and slept on their
pullout so if the next day after a relaxing sleeping men go when here to lunch with the
Lanier's [Music] when police searched the linear garage what they discovered created a clearer
picture of what exactly happened to Elodie and it was different to what mango was telling them
they collected 23 cigarette butts scattered throughout the garage tests prove that 19 of them had been smoked
bond angle and fall by ility although man-god denied tying led during her captivity broken cable tires were found
with both his and her DNA on there were traces of LEDs blood on the ground parked outside
neither garage entrance was mangoes grey Citroen ZX LEDs blood was found on the inside passenger door as was a plastic
packet filled with white powder analysis of the powder revealed there was a mixture of four different types of
sedatives that had been crushed together mangog denied that he sexually assaulted
elderly however the forensic evidence proved otherwise Friday May 6 was supposed to
be the final day of the rolls-royce photoshoot instead mango was finishing up his statement to police detailing
where he had left Elodie several police cars pulled into the car park of the ignored Cemetery they separated and
slowly weaved through the rows of parked cars parked against a low hedge between
a white Range Rover and a red hatchback was a black 1995 BMW sedan the number plate confirmed AB is Elodie morels car
the interior was empty they lifted the rear hood and found Elodie a post-mortem confirmed she died by
strangulation Gyan mango was charged with abduction rape and murder Richard and Francine
Lanier were charged with complicity in kidnapping failure to disclose a crime to authorities and murder their trials
commenced in January 2008 in an outrageous display in court bangor labelled richard linear as a lady's
killer despite confessing earlier to strangling Elodie kidney are denied responsibility
he claimed Richard Lynn year was the one who strangled Elodie and did so in the garage
according to mango Linea ordered him to dispose of a lady's body when golf further insulted Elodie and her loved
ones when he claimed to the court that he had fallen in love with her and would never do anything to hurt her
no one was buying his lies and in February 2008 he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment he
appealed his sentence in July that year and he succeeded he got his sentence lowered to a maximum of 30 years with a
20-year minimum Richard and Francine Linea were each sentenced to six years imprisonment for their complicity in the
crime they also appealed their sentences not only were they unsuccessful they actually got a long term eight years
the Advocate General stated quote the death of Elodie was the meeting between a monster of inhumanity and two monsters
of selfishness Sylvain Racine was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions he grieved privately for the death of
Elodie and has never spoken publicly about it LEDs main priority in life was to ensure
their son lived in a safe and happy home environment and sylveon was going to do
everything he could to make that happen domine Carrasco who made the initial call to police regarding the kidnapping
the resulting he know that his murder understands that he's refusal to name Jeon mangu to police at the beginning
jeopardized the thirties efforts in locating and saving Elodie I do still have regrets Tarasco admits I tell
myself I could have saved this girl because I knew enough but I don't know I screwed up
[Music] he was never charged [Music] you [Music]

Case 71: Elodie Morel

…meanwhile, almost 20 kilometres away, the telephone at the Aigues-Mortes police station rang. The answering officer listened as a panicked male caller warned, “A guy who just left my place is about to kidnap a girl. He’s armed, and I think he’s about to do something horrific.”

CREDITS

Narration – Anonymous Host Research and writing – Milly Raso Special thanks to Nicolas Deliez for his assistance Production, scoring – Mike Migas Additional scoring – Andrew Joslyn

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RESOURCES

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Brief Summary

Elodie Morel's modeling dream leads to her tragic kidnapping and murder by Guillaume Mangu, revealing a dark tale of deception and violence.

Key points

Elodie's Big Day. Elodie Morel prepares for a life-changing modeling opportunity, hoping to make her dreams come true.
The Kidnapping Call. A frantic call to police warns of an impending kidnapping, raising the stakes dramatically.
Elodie's Disappearance. Days after her meeting, Elodie's husband reports her missing, fearing something terrible has happened.
The Missing Person Report. Marseille police finally file a missing-person report after pressure from Sylvain.
Dominique Tarasco's Distress. Tarasco's frantic encounter with police leads to a shocking revelation.
The Kidnapper's Identity. Police discover the identity of the suspected kidnapper after intense interrogation.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

It seemed too good to be true!

6:52WatchNov 20, 2018

Tension

85/ 100High tension

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