Lyhanna autopsy confirms rape, focus on suspect Jérôme Barella

Lyhanna, an 11‑year‑old girl from Fleurance in the Gers department of France, was found dead on 4 June 2026 in an abandoned grain silo in Puycasquier. An autopsy confirmed she had been sexually assaulted; DNA belonging to the main suspect, 41‑year‑old Jérôme Barella, was detected on intimate parts of her body. The forensic report also noted bruises on her left temple, that she had been gagged with adhesive tape and bound at the wrists and ankles. The exact cause of death has not yet been determined, and additional pathological analyses are ongoing.

Barella, the father of a friend of Lyhanna, was placed in pre‑trial detention after being charged with kidnapping and unlawful detention. The new DNA findings may lead to additional charges of rape or murder. The case has triggered a national outcry, prompting parliamentary hearings, inspections of judicial procedures, and widespread public protests calling for reforms to the handling of sexual‑assault complaints against minors. French authorities have pledged further investigations and potential sanctions for any identified procedural failures.