Michel Peiry – Switzerland’s sadistic serial killer

Michel Peiry, born on February 28, 1959, is one of the most famous and terrifying figures in Swiss criminal history. Known as “the Sadist of Romont,” he is often referred to as the worst serial killer Switzerland has seen since World War II. Between 1981 and 1987, Peiry killed at least five young people, with a total of eleven murders attributed to him. Michel Peiry usually proceeded according to the following modus operandi. He picked up mostly young men who were hitchhiking. He then drove to remote areas where he tied up, tortured, sexually abused, and then either killed or knocked unconscious the teenagers by beating them with a hammer or a rock. He then poured gasoline from a canister over the teenagers, some of whom were still alive, and set them on fire. These cruel crimes not only shocked Switzerland, but also left a lasting shadow on society. Peiry’s first alleged crime took place on September 1, 1981, when the then 22-year-old Peiry traveled to the United States. In Florida, he met a young Canadian named Sylvestre, who soon disappeared without a trace. Peiry initially confessed to killing the young man with a hammer during an argument. However, he later recanted his confession, only to confirm it again later. These changing statements became a recurring pattern in his subsequent arrests, which spanned several years. On February 4, 1984, Peiry murdered a young man named Frédéric in the Annecy region of France. In June 1985, he took the life of his only female victim, a woman named Anne-Laure, in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the Camargue, because she had allegedly sexually harassed him. On May 7, 1986, Cédric was the first Swiss citizen whose decomposed body was discovered in Albinen, a remote region of Valais. In the following months, Peiry traveled through several European countries, including Yugoslavia, where he killed a young man named Silvio. He later recanted this murder confession as well. On the night of August 14-15, 1986, he killed a young hitchhiker named Fabio in the canton of Ticino using his usual method. In November, he attacked a man named Yves Ath, who survived the assault despite being tortured and sexually abused. Peiry was a true sex monster, whose next victim in March 1987 was a young man named Vincent. Peiry was also a suspect in the so-called case of the Mourmelon disappearances, as he frequently visited military zones in northern France and the Valdahon camp in Doubs near the Swiss border between 1980 and 1987. However, due to lack of evidence, this lead was dropped in 1990. On April 16, 1987, another young Frenchman was killed in the Como region, while on April 24, 1987, Peiry carried out a final attack on a young man named Thomas, who survived. This was decisive in Peiry’s arrest. Thomas, then 16 years old, was hitchhiking home on April 24 after drinks with friends at a party in Lausanne. He did not know that he had gotten into the car of Michel Peiry, a sadistic serial killer. Peiry drove onto a small path. Thomas wanted to escape, but since the door handle on his side of the car was missing, Thomas was trapped in the car. He was tied up by Peiry, who pulled a stocking over his head, tortured him, sexually abused him, and then beat him with a hammer 30 times before leaving him in a riverbed. He did not set him on fire as usual because he had forgotten his gas can. Despite severe head injuries, Thomas managed to walk to the village of Sottens, where he got help. Thanks to him, a composite sketch and car make could be created. Ironically, it was Peiry’s family who recognized him in the wanted photo. Michel Peiry was arrested on May 1, 1987, while doing his military service in the canton of Bern. Shortly before his arrest, there were reports of the disappearance of 19-year-old Patrick Gache, a recruit in the 4th Dragoon Regiment of Mourmelon. However, no reliable evidence could be gathered against Peiry. After his arrest, Peiry was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1989 by the Entremont Court in Sembrancher for four counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. His psychological state and the circumstances of his childhood were examined in detail during the trial. Despite a difficult childhood in a violent environment, Peiry was able to lead a seemingly normal life. Many of his acquaintances described him as a friendly and charming person. But behind this facade lurked a remorseful psychopath tormented by violent fantasies and his own repressed homosexual desires. Peiry is often described as the epitome of an organized psychopath. According to studies, such individuals often experience profound inner turmoil. While he led a normal life on the outside, Peiry was trapped in a constant internal conflict. His sexual desires were closely linked to violence and power, which is evident in his actions. His approach to sexuality was marked by violent fantasies, beginning with the reciprocal discovery of bondage and sexual aggression. This led to a grotesque connection between sexuality and violence in his psyche, which was reflected in the crimes he committed. Michel Peiry’s crimes left a deep impact on Swiss society. In the years following his arrest, discussions about the treatment of violent offenders became heated, dating back to 2004 when a popular initiative on how to deal with such criminals had to be decided. This shows how strongly Peiry’s actions influenced public perception of violent crime and its prevention. Peiry himself applied several times for early release from prison, but these applications were rejected in 2002 and 2009. His case remains a topic of public discussion and speculation to this day. Michel Peiry is not only a symbol of the evil that lurks in human nature, but also of the complexity of crime itself. His life and actions raise questions about the darkness that can lurk even in the most normal-looking people. The Peiry case reminds us that behind the facade of a “normal” life, there can often be hidden abysses that, once revealed, can change the lives of many people forever.