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Husband Drugged Wife for Decades to Facilitate Mass Rape
21 Mar
Summary
- Husband systematically drugged wife for nearly a decade.
- Over 50 men were invited to abuse her unconscious body.
- Wife Gisele Pelicot bravely waived anonymity at trial.
For nearly a decade, Gisele Pelicot suffered terrifying memory lapses, fearing a brain tumor like her mother's. She experienced these episodes as a 'descent into hell,' unaware her husband, Dominique, was systematically drugging her. He then invited over 50 men to sexually assault her unconscious body.
Pelicot's daughter first suggested the memory loss was drug-induced. Her husband acted as a supportive partner, reassuring her and managing her medical appointments, all while concealing his vile actions. This deception continued for years, leading Pelicot to undergo numerous medical tests without a correct diagnosis.
In 2024, at 73, Pelicot waived her legal anonymity for her husband's trial in Avignon, France. Dominique Pelicot confessed to drugging and raping her for nearly ten years. He received a 20-year sentence for aggravated rape, and 50 co-defendants were convicted of various sexual offenses.
Pelicot's memoir, 'A Hymn To Life: Shame has to Change Sides,' details her love story with Dominique and the unimaginable betrayal. Despite the trauma, she has found love again with Jean-Loup.
