Caroline Darian reveals her father’s horrific actions against her mother and herself
Nice: Caroline Darian’s life changed forever when she got a call from her mom in November 2020. Her mother, Gisèle, revealed a shocking truth about her father, Dominique Pelicot. He had been drugging her for nearly a decade, allowing other men to assault her. It felt like an earthquake to Caroline.
Fast forward to now, and Dominique was found guilty of aggravated rape in France. He received a 20-year prison sentence, the maximum allowed. Caroline is vocal about her feelings, saying her father should “die in prison.” She’s been through a lot, and it’s clear she’s angry.
Gisèle, on the other hand, has shown incredible strength. She walked into court every day, refusing to hide her identity, and became a symbol of bravery against sexual violence. After the shocking call from her mom, Caroline and her brothers rallied around her, supporting her through this nightmare.
Then came another call, this time from the police. They showed Caroline disturbing photos from her father’s computer. One of the images featured an unconscious woman who looked just like her. It hit her hard, and she started to believe her father had done the same to her.
Even though Dominique denies it, Caroline feels deep down that he drugged and assaulted her too. She said, “I know that he drugged me, probably for sexual abuse.” But without evidence, it’s tough to prove. She pointed out how many victims face the same issue—no one believes them because there’s no proof.
Gisèle struggled with the thought that her daughter might have suffered the same fate. Caroline understands how hard it is for a mother to process such trauma. Now, she’s become an advocate for victims of chemical submission, a crime that often goes unreported because many victims don’t remember it happening.
Reflecting on her past, Caroline said she no longer sees her father as the man she once knew. Instead, she views him as the criminal he is. She’s determined to distance herself from him, stating, “I am totally different from Dominique.”
Being the child of both a victim and a perpetrator is a heavy burden. Caroline believes her father is a danger to society and deserves to stay behind bars. “He should die in prison,” she firmly stated.
