Serial Killer from the Land of Lovers-Part 3

Blue Beard: Serial Killer from the Land of Lovers-Part 3

   It was disclosed during the trial the Henri Desire Landru had been convicted seven times for fraud. He had a lot of different jobs but never had any stable occupation. He had also worked as a sub deacon in a religious establishment. His father was afireman and settled at Dordogne after his mother’s death. He came to see his son in Paris and found that he was in prison. He was so upset that he committed suicide in Bois de Boulogne. The young daughter of Landru’s cousin became his mistress and a girl was born to them in 1891. Landru later married her and he had 4 children.

   When the court asked him about the names of so many women appearing in his note book, he replied, “It is the list of a businessman, who entered the names of his clients with whom he did business.” He claimed that he bought the furniture of these women to help them during the war and intended to sell it back to them after Germans had been driven out of France.

Serial Killer from the Land of Lovers-Part 2

Blue Beard: Serial Killer from the Land of Lover - Part 2

   Now the question is, Who was this Henri Desire Landru, who entrapped such a large number of women in his love trap? The story if this heartless murderer of France is a tale of a cheat and a clever common man who made his living by grabbing the money and property of his victims. His modus operandi was also very unique as revealed during his trail. His case opened on December 7, 1921, in the Court of Assizes in ”the Palais de Jusice” at Versailles.

   A large crowd gathered before the court to have a glimpse of the man who was charged with having relations with 283 women and murdering ten of them. After seducing them, he persuaded them to hand over their money and property for, as he gave out, safe keeping and investment. On a table were exhibited charred clothing and bones. Henry Desire Landru was a tall bearded man of 52 years. Landru used the unique method of matrimonial advertisement for getting in touch with his victims.

Serial Killer from the Land of Lovers-Part 1

Blue Beard: Serial Killer from the Land of Lovers - Part 1

   This is an extraordinary story of imitation, swindling, seduction and multiple murders form the land of lovers-France. He was known as “Blue Beard” because of his distinctive beard. He was supposed to have made love to 283 women and was charged for killing at least 10 (ten) of them. This killer, Henri Desire Landru, was known as by different names to his beloved and once boasted that no woman could spurn his amorous advances. France is reputed to be a country where love is a major occupation of its people, but has no tradition of killing beloveds. But, Henri Desire Landru was a lover cast in different moulds. He killed women after depriving them of their money and worldly possessions. 

   The French police was perplexed by the disappearance of many women. One Mrs. Pelat had reported about the disappearance of her sister Anna Colomb who went to live with Monsieur Cruchet at Gambas. Another woman, Mrs. Lacoste, was enquiring about her sister Mrs. Celestine Buisson who also vanished into thin air after visiting Villa Ermitage Gambais, to see M. Fremyet. The Mayor of Gambais made enquiries and found that the above villa was occupied by a M. Dupont. Meanwhile, the French police were also investigating another disappearance, that of a genuine Mrs. Cruchet and her son Andre who had gone to live with one M. Diard in his house at Vernouillet in December, 1914. From the clues provided, the police was satisfied that Cruchet, Fremyet, Dupont and Diard were one and the same person and issued a warrant on April 10, 1919, for the arrest of the individual whose identity tallied with these persons.