French Farmer Manon Relandeau Missing: Investigation Into Possible Femicide

by Chief Editor

Manon Relandeau, a 31-year-old agricultrice, has been missing for nearly three weeks, sparking an increasingly urgent search operation in Loire-Atlantique. Gendarmes are currently focusing their efforts near her residence and the agricultural business where she was employed, though these searches have so far been unsuccessful.

Call for Witnesses in Saint-Etienne-de-Montluc

Authorities issued an appeal for witnesses this Wednesday to help locate the missing woman. According to the appeal, Manon disappeared on March 27 in Saint-Etienne-de-Montluc, after which she stopped providing any news of her whereabouts.

The missing woman is described as being 1.60 meters tall and thin, with long, wavy, brown hair.

Relatives of the young woman raised the alarm on April 3, concerned that they had not heard from her or her 15-month-old baby for several days. Thierry Coin, second-in-command of the gendarmerie company in Nantes, explained that investigations conducted that day quickly pointed toward a “worrying disappearance.”

Following this determination, criminal investigation technicians were deployed on the evening of April 3 to begin their work.

Did You Know? To locate Manon Relandeau, authorities have mobilized a wide array of resources, including drones, helicopters, two canine teams, and the river brigade.

Investigation into Spousal Murder

The parquet and military authorities now fear the case may be a feminicide. This suspicion arises from the fact that the child’s father and Manon’s partner flew from Nantes to Algeria on April 2 with the daughter.

In response to these findings, the parquet has opened a formal investigation for murder by a spouse and the kidnapping of a minor.

Expert Insight: The transition from a missing persons case to a criminal investigation for spousal murder and kidnapping marks a significant escalation. The international element—specifically the flight to Algeria—adds a layer of complexity that may necessitate diplomatic and cross-border legal coordination to secure the child and find answers regarding the mother’s disappearance.

A specialized national investigation cell has been created, led by the Nantes research section. Despite these intensive efforts, the search has remained unsuccessful to date.

The gendarmerie urges anyone with information that could assist the investigators to contact them at 0800 877 668 at any time of the day or night.

Looking forward, investigators may seek to coordinate with Algerian authorities to determine the current status of the child and the father. Further searches could potentially expand if new evidence emerges from the national investigation cell’s findings.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Manon Relandeau disappear?

Manon Relandeau disappeared on March 27 in Saint-Etienne-de-Montluc.

En Loire-Atlantique, la "disparition inquiétante" de Manon Relandeau | AFP

What are the current charges in the investigation?

The parquet has opened an investigation for murder by a spouse and the kidnapping of a minor.

How can the public assist in the search?

Anyone with information can contact the gendarmerie at 0800 877 668 at any hour of the day or night.

What measures should be prioritized when a disappearance involves an international flight?

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