I struggled with episode 3 due to the nature of it being entirely in French. I appreciate the attempt to do something new though. This is one where I felt the lack of a narrator hurt it for me.

As to the case itself, once i was able to give it 100% of my attention (and frequent use of the pause button so as not to miss things) it was fairly interesting. Xavier DuPont De Ligonnès, a near-broke French aristocrat, allegedly murdered his wife and 4 children (3 biological, 1 step) and disappeared. After a week of taking no effort to hide his travels while authorities had no idea the family was dead, he parked his car and walked off into the mountains with what appeared to be a rifle bag never to be seen again.

I would have liked some clarity, and maybe I missed it, as to sightings. My take away from the episode was that after he walked to the mountains he's never been seen again. The theory that he's out there comes from the possibility that he might have hiked or hitchhiked to Italy or Croatia but there's no Brad Bishop in the washroom moment.

I little bit of google, translated badly by Chrome to english, turns up basically more of the same. There was something mailed to a journalist in 2015 allegedly from him and a big media arrest that tuned out to be false in 2019. Other than that it doesn't seem like there's been any sightings, verifiable or not since he took off for the mountains.

From my POV he killed himself in the mountains and animals took care of the rest.

From the french-translated Wikipedia, aftermath not covered in the episode:



Discovery of bones
During the evening of April 28 , 2015, bones are discovered by a walker in the forest of Bagnols, near Fréjus , near the place where Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès was last seen 98 .

The police then reconciles with the disappearance of the suspect, and conducts analyzes on what seems to remain of a survival camp, where are also found some objects such as an empty wallet, a lighter, glasses, a bag , a magazine and an invoice dating from 2011 99 . A medical brooch was also found in the stranger's forearm. However, to the police's knowledge, Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès did not wear a forearm pin, although it is not impossible that he had surgery after his disappearance 99 . In addition, it would seem that the magazine found in the camp dates rather from the year 2010. However, the events which preceded the flight of Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès date, them,

The 1 st May 2015, the RTL.fr website reports that "the DNA taken from the personal effects of the corpse discovered on the evening of April 28 in Bagnols-en-Forêt in the Var is not that of Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès but that of a other man unknown at this time " 100 .





Mail sent to a journalist
A Nantes journalist received halfjuly 2015a letter containing a photo representing Arthur and Benoît, the elder and the youngest seated in front of a kitchen table. On the back of the photo is written "I am still alive" 101 and the somewhat wobbly and enigmatic formula, written in lower case "from there until this time" , followed by the signature "Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès". The identity of the sender remains uncertain 102 .




Track of the monastery of Roquebrune-sur-Argens
The January 9, 2018, the fugitive's birthday, the daily Ouest-France announces at around 9 a.m. that intervention by the judicial police takes place at the Saint-Désert monastery in Roquebrune-sur-Argens . Twenty investigators intervene in this religious building, where two witnesses claim to have recognized the father of the family during a mass. This monastery had never been searched by investigators. Police officers from the PJ of Nantes , assisted by their colleagues from Toulon , take the fingerprints, without success. Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès is not there 103 , 104 .




Glasgow arrest and media outburst
The October 11, 2019at 20 h 44 105 , Le Parisien announcement with a blindfold "Exclusive" that "Xavier Dupont Ligon was arrested" at the Glasgow International Airport 106 . The newspaper later said it had crossed the information with five separate sources close to the file and reliable, some having been authenticated by the Scottish police 105 , 107 .

But quickly, the real information was that "a man suspected of being Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès [was] arrested" 108 . French police call for "the greatest caution" regarding the identification of the suspect 108 . Scottish police tells 23 pm a man was arrested and that his identification is under 105 . It was only an anonymous denunciation 108 , relayed to the French authorities by the Interpol office in London which required verification 105 . AFP relays at 23 h 30 holding a search forLimay ( Yvelines ) at the home of the arrested man. At midnight, the public prosecutor of Nantes calls for "caution", signaling that the match between the suspect and the killer is not made 105 .

However, many newspapers, La Dépêche du Midi , Ouest-France , Le Dauphiné libéré , Le Courrier picard , L'Yonne Républicaine , Latest News from Alsace , Midi libre , Presse-Océan , Le Télégramme , L'Alsace , L'Ardennais , L'Est Républicain , L'Union and La Montagne , based on an article by Le Parisien from an AFP dispatch sent at 9 p.mand confirming the facts on the basis of five separate sources 105 , make them an unequivocal assertion that it is indeed Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès (some editors withdrawing the conditional minutes from their closure 105 ) and the chains of News continuously broadcast "special editions" overnight and the next morning. Interviewed late at night and the next morning, the neighbors of the arrested man declared to investigators and the radio that it was "impossible" for the arrested man to be Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès 105 .

The next day, October 12 , 2019The media call the information in the conditional (AFP dispatch 10 h 50 ) 105 and finally announce authorities to 12 h 55 that the man arrested is not Xavier Dupont Ligon 109 , 110 : the fingerprints do not match very partially (5 points out of 13), the distance between the eyes would not be the same and the man arrested was older 105 , 111 . DNA analyzes definitively confirm the error on person 112 . The Parisianthen criticizes the Scottish police for having confirmed false information to their French counterparts, without casting any doubt as to the identity of the arrested person 105 , 107 .

The theory that he's out there comes from the possibility that he might have hiked or hitchhiked to Italy or Croatia but there's no Brad Bishop in the washroom moment.

From my POV he killed himself in the mountains and animals took care of the rest.

That made me chuckle, even though, it shouldn't have. I also wasn't too crazy about a total french episode either, however, I did find it interesting. Since I believe he was guilty from the start, and did everything to cover the house and tracks, I wasn't happy with him disappearing into the woods.

One thing that REALLY burned me was that he removed the pictures in the house. You murdered them. You should stare at the pictures and think about what you've done. This was a personal crime. In his mind, I'm sure, so his friend said he was doing them a favor so they wouldn't have to live in poverty or "without disgrace". But, yet, for him, he was ok with wining and dining and driving through France. Was he even upset about what he did? He seemed more like a sociopath, to me, that a decent human being.

If one of your last 'gestures' is to remove your son from this world, maybe you should remove yourself first.

Sorry, I know I'm too emotionally invested. I just find killing children deplorable.

I wondered if he had taken the pictures with him on his suicide trek. But he was apparently home for days after they disappeared before he himself left so it could be the other as well.

I just wonder how the murders went down without any blood being found anywhere in the house.

I wondered if he had taken the pictures with him on his suicide trek. But he was apparently home for days after they disappeared before he himself left so it could be the other as well.

I just wonder how the murders went down without any blood being found anywhere in the house.

We're talking about days of time and not hours for planning so my guess he had everything so planned out, he had one killing floor for all of them with plastic everywhere. Then he just placed them on it and fired on them. Perhaps a block of wood or something thick behind their heads? I'm not quite sure, I'm no expert.

We're talking about days of time and not hours for planning so my guess he had everything so planned out, he had one killing floor for all of them with plastic everywhere. Then he just placed them on it and fired on them. Perhaps a block of wood or something thick behind their heads? I'm not quite sure, I'm no expert.

I guess it would depend on how powerful the sleeping pills were. It was implied that the wife went to bed BAU, otherwise there wouldn't have been the pajamas and especially the CPAP. If it let you go about your nightly routine you'd think they'd wake up if they were attempted to be moved to a Dexter room.

That was a crazy story, but as with many "maybe he started a new life somewhere" cases from the original UM, I don't believe he's out there.

He was broke or nearly broke. I don't see what kind of money he would have lived on the last 9+ years. Being born into privilege and aristocracy, he's not somewhere working construction to make a living.

If they're going to do European cases, I'd like to see an episode on the 2012 Annecy shootings aka Chevaline killings.

French Brad Bishop did the same thing American Brad Bishop did shortly after abandoning his car...committed suicide in the woods.

I also think he's dead in that area he was seen walking in to. Somewhere. Yes, I know they searched but how many times have we seen remains found where there had already been multiple searches, especially when it's difficult terrain like that. I just hope there's something left so that they can find something and put this case to rest some day.

I could not get over how much Xavier looked like Mark Harelik. You may remember him from Big Bang Theory or as Davis Lynch in Wings.

I thought this segment was interesting and well done (very high production values) and I am glad see cases outside North America but, AGAIN, it struck me as narratively bloated (the sloooooooow 20+ minute build up to the discovery of the crime) and not that much of a mystery...unless you believe that someone with no survival training can live in the woods of France for a decade, or can traipse around the European Union for years on end without detection.

The guy was seen walking off into the woods with a rifle. It's obvious what happened

French Brad Bishop did the same thing American Brad Bishop did shortly after abandoning his car...committed suicide in the woods.

But in both cases, why go to sooooooo much trouble just to kill yourself after all? Why not just do it at the scene?

But in both cases, why go to sooooooo much trouble just to kill yourself after all? Why not just do it at the scene?

Because they are not thinking rationally, and they wanted to go to a place where they felt "comfortable" to kill themselves.

But in both cases, why go to sooooooo much trouble just to kill yourself after all? Why not just do it at the scene?

Xavier seems to have taken a "tour" of places he'd been happy, though, which I think is an important distinction. And why I think he committed suicide somewhere nearby his last known location.

Based on the lengths he went to hide the bodies and protect the crime scene, I was pretty sure he is on the run. But then when you consider is tour of memorable places and the fact that he didn't seem to be in a hurry, I'm not so sure.

Maybe he planned on running and starting over, and then realized it was pointless and just killed himself in the wilderness. That looked like a very rugged area, so he could easily have found himself a hiding spot and done it there. But he could also have staged that to buy himself time to get out.

In any case, what a sick S.O.B. Just like Brad Bishop, I can't even fathom violently killing your family like this. How do you systematically eliminate your children, including the one he had to wait to kill? Ugh. Such a beautiful family and just a horrible ending.

Much like Brad Bishop, I think he’s on the run.

I don't think Brad Bishop's alive (and I think his loser co-worker made up the Italy sighting) and I don't think the count is either.

I think hiding the bodies was a means of giving him the time he wanted for his farewell tour and maybe hoping to preserve his reputation in death since that was such a thing for him.

I like that UM took on this case to do something different. The show always had that ability to educate their viewers on different geographical locations. For me this is why I loved the show originally. I felt like I was learning something about a different location or culture when I watched. I also think that it opens the viewership to a larger international audience which could lead to more shows.

I think it is possible that he could still be alive. Yes he probably killed himself. But, he made it obvious that he was committing suicide. But he walked away from camera view. reminds me a little of the Keith Reinhard segment where he goes out of his way to tell people, I'm gonna go climb that mountain, so that they would go looking for him. There's no body, so there's no proof that he is dead. Authorities should continue to spread his story with hope that someone in a foreign country is watching and can report his location. or, if his remains do turn up in that area he can be positively ID'd.

Maybe he’s living in Brad Bishop’s pool house somewhere.

(Think Salman Rushdie and Bono only evil)

Maybe he’s living in Brad Bishop’s pool house somewhere.

(Think Salman Rushdie and Bono only evil)

I like that UM took on this case to do something different. The show always had that ability to educate their viewers on different geographical locations. For me this is why I loved the show originally. I felt like I was learning something about a different location or culture when I watched. I also think that it opens the viewership to a larger international audience which could lead to more shows.

I think it is possible that he could still be alive. Yes he probably killed himself. But, he made it obvious that he was committing suicide. But he walked away from camera view. reminds me a little of the Keith Reinhard segment where he goes out of his way to tell people, I'm gonna go climb that mountain, so that they would go looking for him. There's no body, so there's no proof that he is dead. Authorities should continue to spread his story with hope that someone in a foreign country is watching and can report his location. or, if his remains do turn up in that area he can be positively ID'd.

His friends speculate that he's in Argentina due to his fluency in Spanish. They also said he spoke good English too.

His friends speculate that he's in Argentina due to his fluency in Spanish. They also said he spoke good English too.

Yeah, I wonder why they specifically said Argentina? Did they clarify this?

I just finished this episode and unlike the first 2, I had known about this mystery and had seen it covered in crime YTube shows. Of course this showed a better picture of it. The big thing is that it was clear that Xavier murdered his family while the YT shows kind of let it out as if he might have been a victim. That being said, I think it's a case of the guy killing himself and the body just not being found. We have seen it before and the guy was broke and didn't particularly look like he was going to be able to rought it.

It was still another great mystery and I don't get the complaints about it being in French or of subtitles. The rest of the world has to constantly see subtitled media so I don't get what's the problem then.

Like Robert Fisher, I think he is still alive and started a new life. I just don’t believe someone would go through all that effort just to then kill themselves. I’m getting strong John List vibes from Xavier in terms of the measures he went through to put off anyone noticing immediately, which gave him that much more time to flee.

For those struggling with the subtitles you can watch it with an audio description.

I personally didn't but I checked for my Mother.

It is almost like having a narrator on the show. A little creepy too.

I just finished this episode and unlike the first 2, I had known about this mystery and had seen it covered in crime YTube shows. Of course this showed a better picture of it. The big thing is that it was clear that Xavier murdered his family while the YT shows kind of let it out as if he might have been a victim. That being said, I think it's a case of the guy killing himself and the body just not being found. We have seen it before and the guy was broke and didn't particularly look like he was going to be able to rought it.

It was still another great mystery and I don't get the complaints about it being in French or of subtitles. The rest of the world has to constantly see subtitled media so I don't get what's the problem then.

Subtitles are problematic for me because I usually am working on something while watching tv, but I made an exception for UM.

Yeah, I wonder why they specifically said Argentina? Did they clarify this?

They did not say.

They also said he's fluent in English, so there's a chance he might be in the Caribbean or Canada if he's still alive.

Subtitles are problematic for me because I usually am working on something while watching tv, but I made an exception for UM.

Yeah I guess but like I said, the rest of the non english speaking world has to get used to them and has.

Subtitles are problematic for me because I usually am working on something while watching tv, but I made an exception for UM.

You don't need to use the subtitles, it has a English voice over option. So all the subtitles are read aloud in English.

You don't need to use the subtitles, it has a English voice over option. So all the subtitles are read aloud in English.

I just leave the subtitled things for when I’m not working on art with it on in the background. It’s all good, just giving another perspective. I’m not annoyed it was in French. It’s now an international show and I think that’s great for the show.

Thanks for the tip, though. I’ll try that next time if I’m working with it on.

They did not say.

They also said he's fluent in English, so there's a chance he might be in the Caribbean or Canada if he's still alive.

I find that hard to believe in a post 911 world.

I find that hard to believe in a post 911 world.

I would think if he was in Canada, he would already be caught so you are right there.

Caribbean seems a lot more laxed, but it probably depends on where he could be. If he's not dead though, he's probably in South America. Argentina seems to be the home of violent criminals fleeing Europe.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/hn07tf/hey_guys_netflix_here_weve_created_a_public_drive/

UM posted a google drive with clips/photos from the show. Some of the clips are outtakes (I assume they planned to do this all along to interact with the online community because otherwise what they left out makes no sense, imo.)

There is a clip discussing sightings - which says there have been 1000s, but most of them occurred in France. They mentioned two outside of France, but did not say whether it was confirmed to be him or not (sounded like not though).

This honestly makes me lean more towards he's dead. I went into the clip expecting my mind to be changed, but it's not. It all sounds like Xavier is thought be alive due to absence of a body, not due to evidence that he's been seen (or other proof of existence) after the last sighting where he's likely taking the gun with him.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/hn07tf/hey_guys_netflix_here_weve_created_a_public_drive/

UM posted a google drive with clips/photos from the show. Some of the clips are outtakes (I assume they planned to do this all along to interact with the online community because otherwise what they left out makes no sense, imo.)

There is a clip discussing sightings - which says there have been 1000s, but most of them occurred in France. They mentioned two outside of France, but did not say whether it was confirmed to be him or not (sounded like not though).

This honestly makes me lean more towards he's dead. I went into the clip expecting my mind to be changed, but it's not. It all sounds like Xavier is thought be alive due to absence of a body, not due to evidence that he's been seen (or other proof of existence) after the last sighting where he's likely taking the gun with him.


The WIKI for the case covers the sightings and they're all nothingburgers.

The biggest was last year where Germany drummed up a media circus for someone who wasn't him.

I think he's in Florida working for the DEA :D

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2020-07-15/unsolved-mysteries-xavier-dupont-chicago/

This was on Yahoo yesterday, and I thought it was interesting! Terry Meurer himself says that a UM viewer heard a man in Chicago speaking French, and took the man's picture...it was a dead ringer for Xavier. Meurer actually thinks it could be him, but there's no name for the suspect.

Much like Brad Bishop, I think he’s on the run.

My first thought when the letters arrived was the Sohus disappearances, where someone sent postcards from Europe. Then my thoughts were of Brad Bishop. And when they could not find Mr De Ligonnes, I thought of the Don Kemps, Dan Wilsons, etc that were searched for so thoroughly and not found immediately.

In other words, a perfect mystery for UM.

Extremely heinous & horrific crime. How someone could do that to their own family is unconscionable.

No clue as to whether Xavier is still alive or not. I agree he could have gone up to that remote area & died, and then animals could have taken care of the body - if that's what happened, there would be no way to trace him. Or, his remains could easily have been missed during the searches.

And, if he survived - where did he get the $ to live on?! He was destitute when he committed the crimes.