Was Florian Géraud, a 43-year-old from Ariège, found dead in strange circumstances in Paraguay on January 4, 2024, killed? His parents and the French justice system are convinced of this. A judicial investigation for murder has just been opened by the Toulouse public prosecutor’s office.
French justice wants to remove doubt. The Toulouse public prosecutor’s office opens a judicial investigation for murder following the death of Florian Géraud in Paraguay at the beginning of January.
It will be up to “the designated investigating judge to continue the investigation following a letter rogatory or request for mutual assistance in Paraguay”, specified the Toulouse public prosecutor’s office.
This 43-year-old from Ariège, traveling in the country, was found with a rope around his neck in an abandoned pizzeria on January 4, 2024, more than an hour’s walk from his place of accommodation in the suburbs of Asuncion.
According to the autopsy, Florian Géraud died of mechanical asphyxiation and his body showed no signs of violence. The Paraguayan authorities suggest suicide, but also indicate “do not exclude any hypothesis as to the causes of his death”.
A hypothesis that is indeed improbable and unthinkable according to his parents living in Ariège. They filed a complaint last week with the Massat gendarmerie. In very regular contact with their son, Florian showed no signs of depression and had an excellent vacation. He had no reason to end his life according to them.
“We eat together several times a week, I know all his friends. He’s not a depressed boyif. It worked well for him, professionally and in his private life. He got along well with everyone. There was no reason for him to commit suicide.”, Florian’s father testified on January 10 in one of our previous articles.
Florian Géraud, professional videographer and real estate agent, left for Paraguay at the beginning of December to join a friend with the aim of making an investigative documentary on the fate of the Guarani Indians who are expropriated of their land. A sensitive subject in the country.
In the press, the victim’s mother believes that her death could be linked to this report. “I searched on the Internet and I realized that in Paraguay, the relationship between large farmers and expropriated indigenous peoples is an extremely sensitive subject.”
The circumstances of his death are very obscure. On the night of December 31 to January 1, Florian left his place of residence in Paraguay twice. If he returned after his first outing, he did not reappear after his second departure according to video surveillance cameras. He allegedly left without money, bank card or identity papers.
His body was then found three days later, hanging in an abandoned building a few kilometers from his home. His cell phone, discharged, was found near his remains. His last connection was at 4:44 a.m. on January 1, 2024.
The opening of this judicial information will allow Florian’s relatives to follow the investigation carried out on site.
We are very satisfied with this opening of judicial information. It is essential that French and Paraguayan justice cooperate on this matter so that the truth can be discovered. With this act, French justice will be informed and will be able to follow the investigations currently being carried out in Paraguay.
Me Alexandre Martin, lawyer for the parents of Florian Géraud
Florian Géraud’s phone is still in Paraguay. Extraction of data from the phone and other procedures are still ongoing. “The investigation continues”, assured prosecutor Carla Rojas who is following the investigation on site. As for the complete autopsy result “il is not yet available. It could take up to 45 days.”
2024-01-19 04:27:09
#Toulouse #public #prosecutors #office #opens #investigation #murder
