Body Discovered in Gers Region Believed to Be Missing 11-Year-Old Lyhanna; Suspect Under Investigation

Tragedy appears imminent in the case of Lyhanna, the 11-year-old girl who vanished on May 29. A body was discovered on Thursday in the Gers region of France, and identification is currently underway. Sources close to the investigation confirmed the finding to RTL, and Lyhanna's family has been notified, according to AFP.

The discovery comes as a 41-year-old man, identified as Jérôme B., remains in provisional detention. He was taken into custody after being linked to Lyhanna's disappearance. The prosecutor's office in Agen is overseeing the case, and the prosecutor is expected to provide further details.

Lyhanna was last seen on the afternoon of May 29, leaving school and reportedly getting into Jérôme B.'s car. Jérôme B. is the father of one of Lyhanna's classmates. Initially, he denied involvement but was later confronted with surveillance footage. He then claimed to have dropped her off at the municipal pool, which was closed that day.

Concerns about a sexual motive are central to the investigation, as Jérôme B. has faced previous complaints and reports of sexual misconduct involving minors. A complaint filed in 2017 by the mother of a 17-year-old girl was closed without further action after the teenager stated the relationship was consensual. Another complaint was filed in January 2022.

Authorities are working to confirm the identity of the body and determine the circumstances surrounding Lyhanna's death. The investigation is being conducted by the criminal division of the Agen prosecutor's office.