In December, Gisèle Pélicot’s ex-husband, Dominique Pélicot, received a sentence of 20 years in prison after being found guilty of drugging Gisèle and inviting various men to assault her in their home in France over nearly ten years. Recently, their daughter, Caroline Darian, has come forward to share her own concerns about potential abuse by her father.
Darian claims she believes that her father may have also drugged her for the purpose of sexual abuse, although she does not have concrete evidence to support her suspicions.
In a recent interview with the BBC, 46-year-old Darian discussed how her concerns grew when she saw photographs that Dominique had taken of her while she was asleep. She recounted an unsettling moment when she initially did not recognize herself in the images that were found on her father’s computer.
“I experienced a disconnection; I struggled to see myself in those photos,” Darian explained. The images allegedly depicted her unconscious in bed, dressed in just underwear and a shirt. It wasn’t until a police officer pointed out a distinctive mark on her cheek that she was able to recognize herself.
The shock of seeing the photos reminded her of similar images taken of her mother, Gisèle, during the period of her suffering abuse at the hands of Dominique and others. Darian noted, “I was lying on my left side just like my mother did in her pictures.” She has since authored a book titled I’ll Never Call Him Dad Again, set to be released on January 14, which discusses her family’s trauma.
Dominique has denied any wrongdoing against his daughter and offered other explanations for the photos. However, Darian does not believe him. “I know deep down that he drugged me, likely for abuse,” she stated. Unlike her mother’s situation, she reiterated, “I don’t have evidence.”
Darian emphasized the harsh reality faced by many victims who are not believed due to the lack of evidence. “So many victims go unheard and unsupported,” she remarked.
Almost a month after Dominique’s sentencing, Darian said that her mother is "recovering" and "doing well." Darian, on the other hand, finds herself bearing the heavy load of being both a victim’s and a perpetrator’s child. She has difficulty recalling her childhood and rarely refers to Dominique as her father anymore.
Reflecting on her past, Darian said, “When I think back, I no longer remember the father I thought I had. Instead, I see the criminal he truly is.” She added that her hope to advocate for other victims is also a means of establishing distance from him. “I am completely different from Dominique.”
Describing her father, Darian stated he is not mentally ill but rather a “monster” who was fully aware of his actions. She expressed a strong belief that he should remain incarcerated for life, asserting, “He is a dangerous man,” and insisted that there is no chance he should ever be released from prison.
