Ophélie Bretnacher disappearance
Encyclopedia
The case of Ophélie Bretnacher's disappearance is a complex criminal and diplomatic case between France
and Hungary
.
, Hungary
on December 4, 2008. She was part of the European exchange Erasmus Programme
She was tracked by the city video cameras part of her way after coming out from a night club, the Portside of Cuba. Her bag and her cellular phone were found on Lanchid Bridge.
Her friends and family used several methods to attempt to find her,
an official claim was opened in Hungary and was soon followed by one in France
.
On January 11, 2009, several hundred people marched silently in a white march, from the Champ de Mars, near the Eiffel Tower
, to seek involvement of the French State.
In the French Government, Catherine Vautrin
, the Vice-Président of the National Assembly recalls the disappearance of Ophélie and has asked for a French intervention
Following this intervention, French investigators were sent for the second time to Hungary.
Ophélie appears on Nicolas Sarkozy
's blog.
, in February 2009, in a backwater of the Danube. She probably drowned. The police said that death was probably the result of a suicide or accident. However, homicide
cannot be ruled out because of the finding of an hematoma
on Ophelie's body as well as many gray areas during the search.
To date, no findings have been sent by Hungary such as the forensic analysis like Diatom
s and the Danube
search report, despite the intervention mission twice in 2009 of French investigators in Hungary and the local investigation seems not having progressed for one year.
In February 2010, her family filed a new claim for murder
.
In March 2010, a judicial inquiry is opened in Paris for kidnapping
, sequestration
, followed by murder
.
groups, from many European Nations, launched a request for the second consecutive year in order to obtain some answers.
At the end of 2010, two years after her disappearance, more than 45000 people from different countries took part to another Facebook event for Ophélie and, on December 4th, her friends announced that they will organize a new Internet mobilization:
We will create an event for Ophélie, every year, until full light will be shed on her disappearance and death, until justice is done !
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
History of the disappearance
Ophélie Bretnacher, a French student, disappeared in BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
on December 4, 2008. She was part of the European exchange Erasmus Programme
Erasmus Programme
The Erasmus Programme , a.k.a. Erasmus Project is a European Union student exchange programme established in 1987...
She was tracked by the city video cameras part of her way after coming out from a night club, the Portside of Cuba. Her bag and her cellular phone were found on Lanchid Bridge.
Her friends and family used several methods to attempt to find her,
an official claim was opened in Hungary and was soon followed by one in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Politic and diplomatic consequences
An online affidavit has been signed by over 10,000 people and was sent to the French President.On January 11, 2009, several hundred people marched silently in a white march, from the Champ de Mars, near the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
, to seek involvement of the French State.
In the French Government, Catherine Vautrin
Catherine Vautrin
Catherine Vautrin is a member of the National Assembly of France. She represents the Marne department, and is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement.-References:...
, the Vice-Président of the National Assembly recalls the disappearance of Ophélie and has asked for a French intervention
Following this intervention, French investigators were sent for the second time to Hungary.
Ophélie appears on Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
's blog.
The criminal case
Her body was discovered in CsepelCsepel
Csepel is the 21st district and a neighbourhood in Budapest, Hungary. Csepel officially became part of Budapest on 1 January 1950.- Location :...
, in February 2009, in a backwater of the Danube. She probably drowned. The police said that death was probably the result of a suicide or accident. However, homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
cannot be ruled out because of the finding of an hematoma
Hematoma
A hematoma, or haematoma, is a localized collection of blood outside the blood vessels, usually in liquid form within the tissue. This distinguishes it from an ecchymosis, which is the spread of blood under the skin in a thin layer, commonly called a bruise...
on Ophelie's body as well as many gray areas during the search.
To date, no findings have been sent by Hungary such as the forensic analysis like Diatom
Diatom
Diatoms are a major group of algae, and are one of the most common types of phytoplankton. Most diatoms are unicellular, although they can exist as colonies in the shape of filaments or ribbons , fans , zigzags , or stellate colonies . Diatoms are producers within the food chain...
s and the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
search report, despite the intervention mission twice in 2009 of French investigators in Hungary and the local investigation seems not having progressed for one year.
In February 2010, her family filed a new claim for murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
.
In March 2010, a judicial inquiry is opened in Paris for kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
, sequestration
Sequestration
In law, sequestration may refer to:* Sequestration , the seizure of property* the isolation of a jury in order to ensure they are not prejudiced by external contact* In Scottish law, the term for bankruptcy* In U.S...
, followed by murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
.
Mobilization each year
One year later her friends, who were successful in raising 60 000 people on FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
groups, from many European Nations, launched a request for the second consecutive year in order to obtain some answers.
At the end of 2010, two years after her disappearance, more than 45000 people from different countries took part to another Facebook event for Ophélie and, on December 4th, her friends announced that they will organize a new Internet mobilization:
We will create an event for Ophélie, every year, until full light will be shed on her disappearance and death, until justice is done !
External links
- Official website - HELP TO FIND OPHELIE BRETNACHER Association - Update on the investigation 17/10/2009
- , With Ophelie is it Europe that was murdered
- 11/01/2009 Manifestation Film To ask more collaboration between french and hungarian police - AFP document
- Ophélie Bretnacher, pour la vérité sur ton départ si précipité - All the vidéos (en: Update on the investigation) and other articles
See also
- List of people who disappeared mysteriously
- Missing personMissing personA missing person is a person who has disappeared for usually unknown reasons.Missing persons' photographs may be posted on bulletin boards, milk cartons, postcards, and websites, along with a phone number to be contacted if a sighting has been made....