Four Bodies Recovered from the Seine: Alarming Signs Point to a Homophobic Serial Killer in Choisy-le-Roi
Investigation Centers on Radicalized Suspect
The grisly discovery of four male bodies in mid-August in the Seine River, near Choisy-le-Roi (Val-de-Marne), has directed investigators’ attention to 24-year-old Monji H., a Tunisian national. Authorities believe the suspect, who arrived in France three years ago using a false Algerian identity, may have targeted the victims based on their real or assumed sexual orientation. According to Le Parisien, Monji H. is influenced by a radical interpretation of Islam similar to Salafism, which may have played a role in the crimes.
After 96 hours in police custody, during which he chose to remain silent, Monji H. was officially charged with “multiple counts of murder” and placed in pretrial detention on Sunday, August 24. His attorney, Antoine Ory, commented: “My client exercised his right to remain silent during both police questioning and his hearing with the investigative judge. He will share his version of events during the judicial process.” Another individual who was briefly detained during the investigation has since been released without charges.
Diverse Victims With Potential Links
The four victims have been identified as Frantz, a 48-year-old French man from Créteil; Sami, a 21-year-old Algerian resident of Choisy-le-Roi; and two unhoused individuals — Abdellah, a 21-year-old Algerian, and Amir, a 26-year-old Tunisian. All bodies were discovered in close proximity to a squat where Monji H. had been living for around eight months.
Frantz was the first to be reported missing on August 11. He was last seen at a known riverside cruising spot. Forensic tests linked Monji H. to the scene—his DNA was found on Frantz’s trousers, and the autopsy revealed signs of strangulation. Unidentified semen was also detected. Another body bore similar violent injuries, while the remaining two were too decomposed for detailed forensic analysis. According to Le Monde, Frantz and one other victim were found with their pants lowered, adding to the investigators’ suspicions about a sexual motive.
Physical and Digital Clues Strengthen the Case
Authorities have gathered a series of incriminating physical and digital ties between Monji H. and the victims. Abdellah, who disappeared on July 26, was known to frequent a local Emmaüs shelter, and photographs show him in the company of the suspect. The day after he vanished, Monji allegedly used Abdellah’s SIM card.
Amir, who vanished five days later, reportedly shared the same squat as Monji. His debit card was used after his disappearance, including a purchase at a nearby butcher shop. Additionally, SMS messages retrieved from Amir’s phone contained affectionate language, with him referring to Monji as “baby.”
Sami, the youngest victim, went missing on August 4. A friend recounted that their final phone call ended abruptly after Sami said, “Oh, sorry sir.” During a search of the squat, both Sami’s and Abdellah’s identification documents were found in Monji H.’s possession, further linking him to the victims and the crimes.
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