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Description
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Michel Peiry: The Sadist of Romont

Overview

Michel Peiry, born on February 28, 1959, in Romont, Switzerland, is infamously known as "The Sadist of Romont." Between 1981 and 1987, he committed a series of heinous crimes across multiple countries, primarily targeting young male hitchhikers. His modus operandi involved offering rides to his victims, restraining them, subjecting them to sexual assaults, and subsequently murdering them. Often, he would burn their bodies post-mortem, with some victims tragically burned alive. These atrocities have marked him as one of Switzerland's most notorious serial killers since World War II.

Detailed Account of Crimes

  • September 1, 1981 – United States: While traveling in the U.S., Peiry met a young Canadian named Sylvestre. Sylvestre disappeared without a trace. Peiry initially confessed to this murder, later retracted, and then reaffirmed his confession.
  • February 4, 1984 – Annecy, France: Peiry murdered a young man named Frédéric in the Annecy region.
  • June 1985 – Camargue, France: He killed his only known female victim, referred to as Anne-Laure or Anne-Fleur, in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Peiry couldn't recall her exact name.
  • May 7, 1986 – Albinen, Switzerland: Peiry's first Swiss victim, a young man named Cédric, was found burned in the isolated region of Albinen in Valais.
  • July 1986 – Rijeka, Yugoslavia (now Croatia): Peiry confessed to murdering a man named Silvio in the Rijeka region but later retracted this confession.
  • August 14-15, 1986 – Ticino, Switzerland: He encountered a young hitchhiker named Fabio V., whom he murdered following his usual pattern.
  • November 1986 – Neuchâtel, Switzerland: Peiry attacked Yves Ath., who survived despite enduring severe sexual abuse and a near-fatal assault.
  • March 1987 – Switzerland: Another victim, a young man named Vincent, was found burned.
  • April 16, 1987 – Como, Italy: Peiry confessed to murdering a young Frenchman in the Como region but later retracted his confession.
  • April 24, 1987 – Lausanne, Switzerland: His final known victim, a 17-year-old named Michel, was abducted while hitchhiking. Peiry assaulted him and left him for dead. However, Michel survived and provided crucial information leading to Peiry's arrest.

Arrest and Imprisonment

On May 1, 1987, authorities arrested Michel Peiry while he was serving in the Swiss military in the canton of Bern. He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment on October 31, 1989. Despite multiple parole requests in 2002 and 2009, all were denied due to the high risk of reoffending. ...Read More
Victims
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Confirmed Victims: (9)
  • Sylvestre , Date of Death: September 1, 1981
  •     ...View 8 additional victims
    Links to Additional Sources (4)
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    Killer's Details

    Michel

    Peiry

    February 28, 1959 (age 65) Romont, Switzerland

    Male

    White

    The Sadist of Romont

    Murder

    Life imprisonment

    5-11

    1981 - 1987

    07/03/2025