'My father should die in prison', daughter of Dominique Pelicot tells BBC

Caroline Darian, a 46-year-old woman, recently shared her heartbreaking story with the BBC regarding her father, Dominique Pelicot, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for horrific crimes. Caroline stated, 'He should die in prison. He is a dangerous man. ' This statement reflects the deep pain and anger she feels after discovering the truth about her father's actions. The shocking revelation came on a Monday evening in November 2020 when Caroline received a phone call from her mother, Gisèle Pelicot. Gisèle informed Caroline that she had uncovered a terrible secret: for nearly a decade, Dominique had been drugging her so that other men could sexually assault her. Caroline described the moment as life-altering, saying, 'At that moment, I lost what was a normal life. ' She expressed her emotional turmoil, recalling how she shouted, cried, and even insulted her father upon hearing the news. The impact of this revelation was akin to experiencing an earthquake or a tsunami, shaking the very foundation of her existence. Dominique Pelicot was ultimately convicted after a historic trial that lasted three and a half months, during which the extent of his crimes was revealed. In addition to Dominique, over fifty men who had been recruited online to assault Gisèle while she was unconscious were also sentenced to prison. The investigation into Dominique began when he was caught engaging in inappropriate behavior in a supermarket, which led the police to delve deeper into his activities. Upon examining his laptop and phones, investigators discovered thousands of disturbing videos and images of Gisèle, clearly unconscious, being assaulted by various men. This case not only brought attention to the issues of rape and gender violence but also highlighted the lesser-known problem of chemical submission, where victims are drugged to facilitate assault. Caroline has dedicated her life to raising awareness about this issue, as it is believed to be under-reported due to the fact that many victims have no memory of the assault and may not even realize they were drugged. In the aftermath of her father's crimes coming to light, Caroline wrote a book titled 'I'll Never Call Him Dad Again,' which explores her family's trauma and sheds light on the issue of chemical submission. Caroline's journey to support her mother began shortly after the shocking phone call. She and her brothers traveled to the south of France, where their parents had been living, to help Gisèle process the devastating news that her husband was one of the most notorious sexual predators in recent history. Shortly thereafter, Caroline was called in by the police, and her world was shattered once more. The officers showed her two photographs found on her father's laptop, depicting an unconscious woman lying on a bed. Initially, Caroline struggled to recognize herself in the images. However, when the police pointed out a distinctive mark on her cheek, she realized the woman in the photo was indeed her. Caroline firmly believes that her father abused her as well, although he has consistently denied these allegations. She stated, 'I know that he drugged me, probably for sexual abuse. But I don't have any evidence. ' This lack of evidence is a common issue for many victims, who often find themselves not believed or supported due to the absence of proof. Caroline's book serves as a powerful testament to her family's experience and aims to raise awareness about the dangers of chemical submission. She explained that the drugs used in these cases often come from the family's medicine cabinet, including painkillers and sedatives. Caroline emphasized that the threat often comes from within the family, stating, 'The danger is coming from the inside. ' Gisèle, Caroline's mother, faced immense difficulty in accepting that her husband could also have harmed their daughter. Caroline understands the complexity of such a situation, noting that it is challenging for a mother to process such painful truths. However, both mother and daughter agreed that they needed to confront the reality of their situation with dignity and strength. Gisèle's courageous decision to make their story public shocked many in France, as it brought attention to the severity of the crimes committed by Dominique and the other men involved. Now, Caroline grapples with the reality of being the daughter of both a victim and a perpetrator, a burden she describes as 'terrible. ' She finds it increasingly difficult to recall her childhood memories with Dominique, often referring to him as a criminal rather than a father. Caroline stated, 'When I look back, I don't really remember the father that I thought he was. I look straight to the criminal, the sexual criminal he is. ' She is determined to distance herself from her father's actions, asserting, 'I am totally different from Dominique. ' Caroline believes that her father is not a monster in the traditional sense, as he was fully aware of his actions and is not mentally ill. She firmly believes that he is a dangerous man who should never be released from prison. Dominique Pelicot, now 72 years old, will not be eligible for parole for many years, which means he may never reunite with his family. In the meantime, Caroline and her mother are working to rebuild their lives. Caroline mentioned that Gisèle is exhausted from the trial but is also on the path to recovery. Caroline's primary focus now is to raise awareness about chemical submission and to educate children about sexual abuse. She draws strength from her supportive family, including her husband, her brothers, and her ten-year-old son, whom she affectionately refers to as her 'lovely son. ' Caroline believes that the events of that fateful November day have shaped her into the person she is today, and she is determined to look forward to a brighter future.