Doctor Marcel Petiot was a good man, provided free care for the poor and could, if you had the money, help you escape German occupied Paris during World War 2.
Unfortunately, not all of the above was true, as was discovered along with the dismembered remains of dozens of people.
Unfortunately, not all of the above was true, as was discovered along with the dismembered remains of dozens of people.
Not Even Close to Being a Hero
Dr Marcel Petiot. To most, Marcel Andre Henri Felix Petiot was a seen as a shining light during the time of the Nazi occupation of Paris during World War 2. He was a doctor who would provide cheap to free medical care for the poor but on top of that he worked for the French Resistance and helped many of the persecuted Jewish people flee to safety.
He was doing so well for himself, with over 3,000 patients (most were not poor) that he was able to buy a grand house at 21 Rue Le Sueur, a rather affluent part of Paris. There he worked and created his laboratory but little did people realise the horrors that were going on within.
On Saturday, March 11, 1944, a neighbour finally complained about the foul stench that was coming from Petiots home and the large amounts of smoke coming from the chimney. It had been noted before but many were trying to go about there own lives as best as they could with an enemy occupying their city and country.
However on this day the smoke and stench was particularly noxious. One neighbour went to the house to complain and there they found a note saying that Petiot would be away for a month, so the police were summoned.
He was doing so well for himself, with over 3,000 patients (most were not poor) that he was able to buy a grand house at 21 Rue Le Sueur, a rather affluent part of Paris. There he worked and created his laboratory but little did people realise the horrors that were going on within.
On Saturday, March 11, 1944, a neighbour finally complained about the foul stench that was coming from Petiots home and the large amounts of smoke coming from the chimney. It had been noted before but many were trying to go about there own lives as best as they could with an enemy occupying their city and country.
However on this day the smoke and stench was particularly noxious. One neighbour went to the house to complain and there they found a note saying that Petiot would be away for a month, so the police were summoned.
The stove used in cremating remains. On arrival the officers learnt that Petiot lived in another house and quickly sent for him but as the smoke worsened they feared there was a eternal fire, maybe one of the fireplaces had gone out of control, and firemen were summoned.
The firemen entered the house and tracked the source of the smoke to the basement where a coal stove was burning hot and thick, a human arm sticking out of its open door. Mixed in with the coal heap were more human remains, bones, limbs and other parts too small to be identified then and there.
When Petiot arrived he explained they were the remains of Germans, Nazi collaborators and traitors, that he was the head of a resistance group and that the Germans would have his head for this. This seemed good enough for the sergeant who let Petiot go.
The firemen entered the house and tracked the source of the smoke to the basement where a coal stove was burning hot and thick, a human arm sticking out of its open door. Mixed in with the coal heap were more human remains, bones, limbs and other parts too small to be identified then and there.
When Petiot arrived he explained they were the remains of Germans, Nazi collaborators and traitors, that he was the head of a resistance group and that the Germans would have his head for this. This seemed good enough for the sergeant who let Petiot go.
Extend of the Atrocities Uncovered
Courtyard of the horror house during investigation. An investigation was carried out and more remains were found. At the bottom of a staircase was a sack containing the headless, left side of a human body, in the garage was a lime pit filled with corpses at various stages of decomposition and in the stable another death pit was located.
Back in the house the basement sinks were discovered to be where the corpses had been drained of blood. Various bins were located about the property containing charred bones, fleshy pieces, scalps and hair.
A sound proof hexagonal chamber was also located, complete with shackles and a peep-hole. Here Petiot could chain up a victim and watch their anguish as they languished within the chamber.
The sergeant soon began to regret his decision to let Petiot go, as a telegram was received, saying to apprehend Petiot immediately – he was a dangerous lunatic!
It took about seven months to finally track down the killer. He hid with family and friends, stating that the Gestapo would kill him if he was captured. He adopted several aliases, allowed his hair and beard to grow and enjoyed a sort of freedom, even if he was constantly looking over his shoulder.
Back in the house the basement sinks were discovered to be where the corpses had been drained of blood. Various bins were located about the property containing charred bones, fleshy pieces, scalps and hair.
A sound proof hexagonal chamber was also located, complete with shackles and a peep-hole. Here Petiot could chain up a victim and watch their anguish as they languished within the chamber.
The sergeant soon began to regret his decision to let Petiot go, as a telegram was received, saying to apprehend Petiot immediately – he was a dangerous lunatic!
It took about seven months to finally track down the killer. He hid with family and friends, stating that the Gestapo would kill him if he was captured. He adopted several aliases, allowed his hair and beard to grow and enjoyed a sort of freedom, even if he was constantly looking over his shoulder.
Remains are removed from the site. He was finally recognised and apprehended in a Paris metro station. On his possession was a pistol, large sums of money and 50 different sets of identity papers.
He was imprisoned while awaiting trial and all the while he claimed the bodies were of traitors to the French. Then he changed the story claiming he found the bodies, but yes they were Germans. However the trial would find him guilty and that the murders were for profit.
He was imprisoned while awaiting trial and all the while he claimed the bodies were of traitors to the French. Then he changed the story claiming he found the bodies, but yes they were Germans. However the trial would find him guilty and that the murders were for profit.
Modus Operandi
On trial... suitcases of the victims on display in the background. Remembering that before this time Petiot was seen as working for the resistance and helped many people wanted by the Germans (Jews, resistance fighters, petty criminals, anyone who did not want to be occupied) to escape to South America where they would be safe. The cost was 25,000 francs per person. A good sum of money in those days but worth it if you wanted to keep your life.
People would learn of Dr Eugene, Petiots alias when 'helping the underground', and through several accomplices would find their way to him. Once in his laboratory he would tell the escapees that Argentine officials required them to be inoculated against various illnesses. However, rather than an inoculation, 'Dr Eugene' would inject them with cyanide (or something to knock them out if he wanted to play with them a little).
People would learn of Dr Eugene, Petiots alias when 'helping the underground', and through several accomplices would find their way to him. Once in his laboratory he would tell the escapees that Argentine officials required them to be inoculated against various illnesses. However, rather than an inoculation, 'Dr Eugene' would inject them with cyanide (or something to knock them out if he wanted to play with them a little).
Petiot on trial. From here he would take the money, steal their belongings and get rid of the bodies. To begin with the bodies were dumped in the Seine, throw bags containing human remains onto passing trucks, then when that got too hard he destroyed them by dismembering them and submerging them in quicklime (delivered to him by his brother).
It was at this time people knew there was a murderer on the loose as one of the drivers of these trucks found the grisly contents of one bag – two severed heads, two feet, the skin from two legs (like a pair of stockings) and three scalps.
Later, after he purchased the house on Rue Le Sueur, he also had the option to dismember and incinerate them.
It was at this time people knew there was a murderer on the loose as one of the drivers of these trucks found the grisly contents of one bag – two severed heads, two feet, the skin from two legs (like a pair of stockings) and three scalps.
Later, after he purchased the house on Rue Le Sueur, he also had the option to dismember and incinerate them.
Execution!
Guilotine used in Petiots beheading being cleaned after the event. At his trial he refused to name his Resistance associates (later officials found he had no real links to them).
As part of the evidence against him, was forty seven suitcases belonging to those who had paid him to escape the Germans, only to be killed. In the end he was found guilty of twenty four murders (some sources say twenty six) but it is believed he killed as many as 160 men, women and children.
On May 25th May, 1946, Marcel Petiot went to the guillotine. He accepted a cigarette but refused the traditional glass of rum. He approached the device of his death as if he were comfortable with his destiny. His final words were “Gentlemen, I ask you not to look. This will not be very pretty.”
Witnesses say his face still carried a smile as his head dropped into the awaiting basket.
As part of the evidence against him, was forty seven suitcases belonging to those who had paid him to escape the Germans, only to be killed. In the end he was found guilty of twenty four murders (some sources say twenty six) but it is believed he killed as many as 160 men, women and children.
On May 25th May, 1946, Marcel Petiot went to the guillotine. He accepted a cigarette but refused the traditional glass of rum. He approached the device of his death as if he were comfortable with his destiny. His final words were “Gentlemen, I ask you not to look. This will not be very pretty.”
Witnesses say his face still carried a smile as his head dropped into the awaiting basket.
Ashley Hall 2013
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