Patrick Tissier

Patrick Tissier (born 24 August 1952) is a French serial killer and rapist who was convicted of killing three people from 1971 to 1993 in the southern regions of France. His case, along with that of Christian Van Geloven, led to a reform in the penal code in regard to the treatment of child murderers.

Biography

Early life Patrick Tissier was born on 24 August 1952 in Bourges (Cher). He grew up in a difficult family environment, with five brothers and sisters, of whom he was the youngest, a violent father and a fickle mother. His childhood, which he describes as ‘disgusting’, left its mark on him.

In 1963, when Patrick was 11, his mother left the family home. With the first three children grown up, only Patrick, Lionel and Viviane stayed with their father, who began a relationship with Marie Luna.

In 1965, aged 12 and a half, Tissier tried to rape his sister Viviane. She reasoned with him and he gave up. Lionel, for his part, suffered several bouts of depression before committing suicide in 1986.

In March and April 1969, he tried to rape his mother-in-law in the bathroom. He hit her on the head and strangled her, but failed in his attempt. His mother-in-law lodged a complaint, involving the DDASS. He was then treated by a juvenile court judge and several psychiatrists, and stopped committing acts of violence.

Escape, new crime and conviction for rape In 1982, after 11 years in prison, Tissier was granted five temporary absences, during which all went well.

On 27 and 28 May 1985, Tissier appeared before the Haute-Garonne Assize Court for his escape, the rape of the secretary, the attempted rape of another young woman and the violent thefts committed during his escape. He was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment.

Release and new murders Tissier was released on 4 January 1992, after years in prison. He was 39 years old at the time. He joined the Mormon community. He later met the Volckaert family, with whom he became close friends. The Volckaert children nicknamed him ‘Uncle Patrick’. At the time, the family was unaware of Tissier's criminal past. They saw him as a ‘kind’ and ‘helpful’ person.

On 6 August 1993, in Perpignan, Tissier killed his next-door neighbour Concetta Lemma, aged 45. He probably raped her and then strangled her to death. He tied her up and wrapped her in a shower curtain, before hiding her body in the ‘Coves’ underground tunnel in Canohès, several hundred metres below ground. Following Concetta Lemma's disappearance, her daughters asked Tissier if he had any news, but he replied in the negative. Tissier offered to go with them to the police station to report the disappearance. The gendarmes, believing it to be a voluntary departure, did not bother to open an investigation, however, as the missing woman was due to appear in court the following month as an accomplice to drug trafficking.

On 13 September, at 6pm, in the car park of the primary school, Tissier was waiting for 8-year-old Karine Volckaert, the daughter of Jocelyne Milluy, a Mormon friend. Karine readily accepted his offer to take her home. He parked near a warehouse out of sight and told her they were going to play a game.

Tissier's arrest sparked a media debate on recidivism and led to controversy over the reinstatement of the death penalty for child murderers.

On 1 February 1994, Pierre Méhaignerie, the then Minister of Justice, proposed a law known as the ‘incompressible life sentence’, which would allow the court to exclude the early release of a person convicted of rape and murder of a minor, thus preventing other criminals like Patrick Tissier from being released from prison at the end of a security period, if the court so decided.

While in prison, Tissier sent numerous letters to the investigating judge, Danielle Braud, in which he described his mixture of violence and sexuality. After two years in prison, Tissier stated that he had statements to make concerning the disappearance of Concetta Lemma.

On 19 September 1995, Tissier was taken from his cell to make his revelations. Questioned by Judge Braud, he initially stated that he could not stand being insulted by his guards and fellow inmates, and then said that it was unfair not to have chocolate for breakfast. After discussing his misunderstandings in prison at length, Tissier confessed to having killed Concetta Lemma by strangling her, before dismembering her, and then confessed to having scattered the remains of her body in a pond in Fitou. He is now under investigation for the murder of Concetta Lemma.

Tissier was again taken from his cell on 13 September 1996 to be re-interviewed about the murder of Concetta Lemma. In police custody, Tissier gave the investigators new and detailed clues, finally confessing that Concetta's body had been found in the ‘Coves’ underground tunnel in Canohès. Excavations were carried out at the site and Concetta's body was discovered three years after her disappearance, on 16 September 1996.

Possibility of release In September 2023, many media outlets reacted to the 30th anniversary of Tissier's imprisonment, giving him the opportunity to apply for parole. The victims' families and surviving victims were strongly opposed to his ever being released, convinced that he would commit new crimes.

As a result of this media coverage, Yvelise R. came forward and claimed to be another of Tissier's victims, whom he allegedly raped during his sixth temporary absence in December 1982. Yvelise, who was in her early twenties at the time, admitted that Tissier had entered her home while her husband, Christian, was being held at the Muret detention centre, where Tissier had been detained for the murder of his girlfriend. As he did not know Yvelise personally, Tissier learned of the couple's home through Christian. He allegedly took advantage of Christian's imprisonment to enter Yvelise's home and rape her in her absence.

List of victims Facts Discovery IdentityAge Date Place Date Place 1 May 1971 Bourges 2 May 1971 Bourges Marie-Françoise Pinson 18 Mid-December 1982 Toulouse 3 October 2023 Toulouse Yvelise R. ≃20 22 December 1982 Toulouse 22 December 1982 Toulouse a secretary 18 23 December 1982 Toulouse 23 December 1982 Toulouse a young woman ? 6 August 1993 Perpignan 16 September 1996 Canohès Concetta Lemma 45 10 September 1993 Perpignan 10 September 1993 Perpignan Marie-Josée Gauze 41 13 September 1993 Perpignan 22 September 1993 Fitou Karine Volckaert 8