French serial killer appeared as contestant on prime TV game show

A former police officer wanted for murder in France for 35 years appeared on a prime time TV game show in 2019, it has emerged.

The man, who appeared on the show Tout le monde veut prendre sa place, was presented as François.

Footage of the TV appearance has been uncovered by online media outlet Marianne.

He appeared to be in his 60s, and had grey hair and a beard. He said - truthfully - that he had worked as a police officer, including in the cavalry regiment of the Garde républicaine, and motorbike operations in the gendarmerie.

But in reality, the contestant was François Vérove, known as ‘le Grêlé’ (meaning “pockmarked”, after witnesses reported acne scars on his face after his first murder). He was a suspected criminal, wanted for 35 years by police in connection with several rapes and murders of young girls in the 1980s and 1990s.

Judge Nathalie Turquey and criminal investigators believe that at least 30 cases - including nine murders - committed between 1983 and 1994, could be attributed to him. If correct, these figures would make Vérove one of France's most prolific serial killers.

Peaceful life - and suicide

Yet, for more than three decades, he escaped police notice, and lived apparently peacefully in the La Grande-Motte area (Hérault), even taking part in the very public TV show just five years ago.

Even his wife was unaware of his past, claims Patricia Tourancheau, journalist and author of the book Le Grêlé: Le tueur était un flic (Le Grêlé: The killer was a police officer). She wrote that the killer's wife said he was a good father and loving husband, and “didn't hide”.

He had even recently taken part in “a game show with his face uncovered”, she said.

But in September 2021, new DNA evidence meant the man was on the point of being discovered. He was found dead in an Airbnb in Le Grau-du-Roi (Gard), a few hours before he had been scheduled to attend a police summons.

In a suicide letter, he confessed to his crimes, explaining that he had committed murder as a result of "mad rages" that had “made him a criminal”. Yet, he had not committed any crime since 1997, he said.

Read also

Englishman charged with murder in France but never extradited dies
Murder trial reopened in France 70 years after first conviction
Wife of French serial killer in court over 3 murders including Briton