Patrice Alègre is a French serial killer who committed at least six murders and multiple sexual assaults between 1989 and 1997.
Patrice Alègre was born on November 15, 1968, in Toulouse, France. His childhood was reportedly marked by instability and violence. His father was a violent alcoholic who would regularly beat Patrice and his mother. Patrice’s mother eventually left his father and moved the family to a different part of Toulouse.
Growing up, Patrice was known to be a troubled child. He was expelled from school for violent behavior and was frequently in trouble with the law. As a teenager, he joined the French Army, but he was eventually discharged after being caught stealing.
After leaving the army, Patrice became involved in criminal activities. He was arrested and convicted of theft in 1989 and sentenced to two years in prison. After his release, he began working as a bouncer at a nightclub in Toulouse.
It was during this time that Patrice began to commit his first murders. His victims were all young women who worked as prostitutes in the red-light district of Toulouse. He would lure them to secluded areas, where he would sexually assault and murder them.
Patrice’s crimes went undetected for several years, and it wasn’t until he was arrested for the murder of Moktaria Chaïb in 1993 that the police began to suspect him of other crimes. Eventually, he was linked to the murders of six women and multiple sexual assaults.
Here is a timeline of the events and victims surrounding the Patrice Alègre murders:
1989:
- Patrice Alègre is discharged from the French Army.
- Alègre is convicted of theft and sentenced to two years in prison.
1990:
- Alègre is released from prison.
- In May, Catherine Rocher, a 27-year-old prostitute, is found dead in a forest near Toulouse. She had been strangled and beaten.
- In October, Isabelle Mesnage, a 20-year-old prostitute, is found dead in a field near Toulouse. She had been stabbed multiple times.
1991:
- In January, Sylvie Ortega, a 20-year-old prostitute, is found dead in a field near Toulouse. She had been stabbed multiple times.
- In March, the body of 30-year-old Moktaria Chaïb is found in a forest near Toulouse. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted.
1993:
- In April, Alègre is arrested for the murder of Moktaria Chaïb. He is later found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.
1994:
- Alègre is charged with the murder of Sylvie Ortega.
1996:
- Alègre is charged with the murder of Catherine Rocher.
1997:
- In January, Patricia Bara, a 27-year-old prostitute, disappears. Her body is never found.
- In February, Christelle Blétry, a 21-year-old prostitute, is found dead in a forest near Toulouse. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted.
- In June, the body of Laurence Ligier, a 23-year-old prostitute, is found in a forest near Toulouse. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted.
- Alègre is arrested for the murder of Christelle Blétry.
- In September, Alègre confesses to the murders of Isabelle Mesnage, Sylvie Ortega, and Catherine Rocher.
The murders committed by Patrice Alègre were particularly heinous, as they often involved sexual assault and extreme violence. Alègre specifically targeted sex workers, whom he believed were easy targets. He was known to frequent the red-light district of Toulouse, where he would pick up prostitutes before assaulting and killing them.
Despite being arrested and convicted for the murder of Moktaria Chaïb in 1993, it wasn’t until four years later that Alègre’s crimes began to come to light. In 1997, after the discovery of the bodies of Christelle Blétry and Laurence Ligier, Alègre was finally arrested for his crimes.
During his trial, Alègre claimed that he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol during the murders and could not remember committing them. He also claimed that he was a victim of police brutality during his arrest and subsequent interrogation.
However, the evidence against Alègre was overwhelming, and he was eventually found guilty of six murders and multiple sexual assaults. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The Patrice Alègre case is notable not only for the brutality of the crimes but also for the controversy surrounding the police investigation. Some have criticized the police for failing to properly investigate the murders of sex workers, suggesting that the victims were not given the same attention and resources as other murder victims.
The case also highlights the broader issue of violence against women, particularly those who work in the sex industry. Sex workers are often vulnerable to violence and exploitation, and their murders are sometimes seen as less important by law enforcement and society
