Gisèle Pelicot has said she intends to visit her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot in prison to confront him over unanswered questions about the potential abuse of their daughter and a separate murder investigation. The 73-year-old, who became a symbol of courage after her ex-husband was convicted of drugging and orchestrating her rape by dozens of men, told the New York Times she needs to look him 'straight in the eye' and seek the truth.
Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in December 2024 for the attacks on his wife, which involved at least 70 perpetrators, though police could not identify all. He also remains under investigation for the 1991 rape and murder of an estate agent. Questions persist over whether the couple's daughter, Caroline Darian, was also abused, after police found photos of her unconscious in underwear she did not recognise.
Pelicot described the uncertainty for her daughter as 'inescapable hell', adding that Dominique provided no answers during the trial. She hopes that when they meet face to face, he will show remorse and reveal the truth about both the daughter and the other accusations. 'Maybe I'm naive, maybe I won't get an answer,' she admitted.
Reflecting on the moment she learned of the abuse in November 2020, Pelicot recalled being shown photos of herself being raped by strangers and being told she had been assaulted about 200 times. She described watching the videos and feeling like a 'rag doll', grateful for having no memory of the attacks, as she believes she would have taken her own life otherwise.
During the trial, Pelicot waived her anonymity, declaring 'the shame is theirs', and became a global feminist icon. She received support from figures including French President Emmanuel Macron and Queen Camilla, who praised her 'dignity and courage'. Pelicot noted that the revelations have not united her family but described it as 'an explosion that blows everything away', though she is rebuilding her relationship with her daughter, speaking daily by phone.
