Former French Police Officer Arrested in Portugal on Suspicion of Double Homicide
A 42-year-old former French police officer has been apprehended in Portugal in connection with the deaths of two women. Their bodies were discovered buried in the Serra da Nogueira region of Bragança on Wednesday. The victims are believed to be the suspect’s former partner and his current partner.
The suspect, identified as Cédric Prizzon, had been sought by French authorities for four days prior to his arrest. He was stopped on Tuesday during a routine roadside check by the GNR (Guarda Nacional Republicana) on the Estrada Nacional 102, in Mêda, within the Guarda district. At the time of his apprehension, Prizzon was found to be in possession of forged documents and an illegal firearm.
Accompanying Prizzon in the vehicle were his two young children, aged 13 years and 18 months. Fortunately, the children were found safe and have since been placed under care.
Following Prizzon’s detention, GNR officers conducted a background check that revealed he was a person of interest to French authorities. He was suspected of abducting his children, his former partner, and his current partner.
A statement from the GNR confirmed, “Following the operation, and in the course of subsequent enquiries carried out by the same officers, it was established that the detainee was listed as a suspect in serious offences, namely abduction and other very serious criminal acts, including suspected homicide. In this context, the Judicial Police were immediately contacted.”
Discovery of Victims and International Cooperation
French news agency AFP reported that the two women were officially reported missing last Friday from Aveyron, a region in the south of France. The alarm was raised by a relative of Cédric Prizzon’s former partner. The relative became concerned when the woman failed to report for work, her child did not attend school, and neither could be reached.
Sources suggest that it was Prizzon’s eldest son who provided crucial information to Portuguese authorities. This intelligence reportedly led investigators to the Serra da Nogueira in Bragança, where the bodies of the two women were found buried. The grim discovery was made over 150 kilometres away from the location where Prizzon was initially stopped by the GNR.
AFP indicated that officers from the Toulouse gendarmerie, the French military police force stationed in Toulouse, were expected to travel to Portugal in the immediate aftermath of the discovery. The ongoing investigation is being spearheaded by the public prosecutor’s office in Montpellier, France.
Background of the Suspect
French media reports indicate that Cédric Prizzon was unemployed at the time of his arrest. Beyond his former career as a police officer, he was also known to have been a rugby player. It is understood that Prizzon had previously lost custody of his children. In 2021, he had a documented instance of travelling illegally to Spain with his eldest son, where they remained for several weeks. Furthermore, he has a prior conviction for domestic violence against his former partner.
On social media platforms, Prizzon presented himself as a content creator. He frequently posted claims suggesting that his eldest son was in a state of danger.
The investigation into this disturbing case is ongoing, with authorities working to piece together the full timeline of events leading to the tragic deaths of the two women. International cooperation between French and Portuguese law enforcement agencies is expected to be a key element in bringing the case to a resolution. The focus remains on understanding the motive behind the alleged homicides and ensuring justice for the victims.
