The kidnapping of the century, which had ignited the media’s imagination, turned out to be what it clearly was from the start: an operation by bumbling amateurs without any skill or experience in this kind of activity, who, after abducting Madame Veyrac, evidently didn’t know what to do with her, except attempt an improbable ransom demand.
Six people have hence been charged with kidnapping and confinement as part of the investigation into the abduction of Jacqueline Veyrac, announced the Nice prosecutor’s office (Alpes-Maritimes). A seventh person has been charged with failing to report a crime.
Among the suspects charged, five are already in custody. The other two have been released under judicial supervision.
Some of the suspects “admitted their involvement during custody,” while “others denied having participated or being aware of what happened,” explained the divisional commissioner of the Nice police, during a press conference.
It is strongly believed that, just a few hours after the abduction, following some indications from the victimโs close contacts, investigators already knew who the “mastermind” was (never has this term been so inappropriate).
The remaining task was to protect the victim without rushing intervention to prevent actions by the kidnappers that could harm her. When dealing with amateurs, they can manage to cause harm without even knowing why!
Madame Veyrac regained her freedom under circumstances that further highlighted the operational incompetence of these one-day bandits, and the police promptly intervened to arrest them.
The dispute between Jacqueline Veyrac and her children with a former manager of a Michelin-starred restaurant in Nice, whose business had gone awry, was therefore the origin of this revenge. This disagreement dates back to 2009 and is “still ongoing at the judicial level,” according to a judicial source.
Also, the episode has ended for the investigative journalists: the case fizzled out, thankfully!