Lydia Gouardo
Encyclopedia
Lydia Gouardo, born November 13, 1962 in Maisons-Alfort
, Val-de-Marne
, is a French
woman who was imprisoned for 28 years, raped, and tortured by her legal (though not biological) father, Raymond Gouardo, in their home in Meaux
and Coulommes
in Seine et Marne. The abuse took place from 1971 to 1999.
Lydia gave birth to six children, all by her father. During her imprisonment, she escaped and phoned legal aid, but her father recaptured her in a family residence in Melun
. She was finally freed in 1999 when her father died. Abuse took place from when she was 8 years old, her mother (not biological either) knew of this and a closed door trial was taken against her. She was given a four-year suspended jail sentence.
Lydia claimed to have run away from her father when he hit her too hard but was always brought back by the police when she was a minor. She claimed to have not realized that the abuse was unusual. She still bears the scars of her torture from her neck down to her ankles from where her captor burned her with boiling water and hydrochloric acid. She also spent a lot of time locked in the attic of the home she still lives in.
She wrote a book about her story, "Le silence des autres" (The Silence of Others), with the French journalist and writer Jean-Michel Caradec'h
in 2008. She admitted that it was the world wide news of the Fritzl case
that made her talk, she described being behind shutters. She also said she wanted to be friends with Elisabeth Fritzl because she would feel less alone and she could support her. Gouardo believes the world "ignored her plight" as an incest and abuse victim.
Her legal (not biological) mother was convicted for failure to report the crimes she was aware of, and also for sexual abuse against one of Lydia's children.
Police also suspect Raymond Gouardo of being implicated in the murder of four other girls in the Paris area in 1987. DNA tests on one of the victims have not shown any link with Gouardo and other evidence is circumstantial.
Maisons-Alfort
Maisons-Alfort is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Maisons-Alfort is famous as the location of the National Veterinary School of Alfort, the most renowned veterinary medical school in France...
, Val-de-Marne
Val-de-Marne
Val-de-Marne is a French department, named after the Marne River, located in the Île-de-France region. The department is situated to the southeast of the city of Paris.- Geography :...
, is a French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
woman who was imprisoned for 28 years, raped, and tortured by her legal (though not biological) father, Raymond Gouardo, in their home in Meaux
Meaux
Meaux is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located east-northeast from the center of Paris. Meaux is a sub-prefecture of the department and the seat of an arondissement...
and Coulommes
Coulommes
Coulommes is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
in Seine et Marne. The abuse took place from 1971 to 1999.
Lydia gave birth to six children, all by her father. During her imprisonment, she escaped and phoned legal aid, but her father recaptured her in a family residence in Melun
Melun
Melun is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. Located in the south-eastern suburbs of Paris, Melun is the capital of the department, as the seat of an arrondissement...
. She was finally freed in 1999 when her father died. Abuse took place from when she was 8 years old, her mother (not biological either) knew of this and a closed door trial was taken against her. She was given a four-year suspended jail sentence.
Lydia claimed to have run away from her father when he hit her too hard but was always brought back by the police when she was a minor. She claimed to have not realized that the abuse was unusual. She still bears the scars of her torture from her neck down to her ankles from where her captor burned her with boiling water and hydrochloric acid. She also spent a lot of time locked in the attic of the home she still lives in.
She wrote a book about her story, "Le silence des autres" (The Silence of Others), with the French journalist and writer Jean-Michel Caradec'h
Jean-Michel Caradec'h
Jean-Michel Caradec'h is a French journalist and writer. He is the author of several books in association with personalities of show business, sports, and civil life...
in 2008. She admitted that it was the world wide news of the Fritzl case
Fritzl case
The Fritzl case emerged in April 2008 when a 42-year-old woman, Elisabeth Fritzl , stated to police in the town of Amstetten, Austria, that she had been held captive for 24 years in a concealed corridor part of the basement area of the family home, a condominium-style apartment complex built by her...
that made her talk, she described being behind shutters. She also said she wanted to be friends with Elisabeth Fritzl because she would feel less alone and she could support her. Gouardo believes the world "ignored her plight" as an incest and abuse victim.
Her legal (not biological) mother was convicted for failure to report the crimes she was aware of, and also for sexual abuse against one of Lydia's children.
Police also suspect Raymond Gouardo of being implicated in the murder of four other girls in the Paris area in 1987. DNA tests on one of the victims have not shown any link with Gouardo and other evidence is circumstantial.