Blanche Monnier: The girl who was locked away for 25 years
In 1901, a letter arrived at the Paris Attorney General’s office that could not be overlooked. The author disclosed a startling fact: Blanche Monnier, a woman hailing from Poitiers, had been confined in a tiny attic room for an astonishing 25 years.
The letter depicted a bleak image of Blanche’s state — “half-starved, surviving on a putrid litter,” with her surroundings enveloped in grime.
When the police came, they encountered a scene reminiscent of a horror tale.
Born into a well-respected family
To truly understand the shocking and sorrowful story of Blanche Monnier do Marconnay, we must take a step back to 1870s France, an era filled with revolutions and turmoil.
Blanche, born in 1849, was part of a respected, conservative bourgeois family in the French city of Poitiers. This town is steeped in history, known for its Romanesque churches. Both of Blanche’s parents, Charles and Louise Monnier, had strong ties to the community.
Her mother, Madame Louise Monnier, was well-regarded for her philanthropic efforts, even earning a community award for her generous donations. The family’s legacy was robust — Louise’s deceased husband had led a local arts faculty, and their son Marcel had graduated from law school, now serving as an administrative official.
Marcel held his mother in high esteem, while Blanche was a lively young woman eager to forge her own destiny. With her thick, curly hair, large eyes, and dynamic personality, she embodied energy and independence, standing in stark contrast to the more conventional expectations her family placed upon her.
It was these very qualities that would ultimately lead to a tragic fate for young Blanche. Yet in 1876, no one could have foreseen the fate that awaited the beloved socialite.
Disappeared without a trace
That year, Blanche Monnier attracted the interest of numerous potential suitors. Known for being “very gentle and good-natured,” she was seen as a delightful young woman, with her beauty making her a highly desirable match in society.
Due to her family’s prestigious reputation, she was frequently in the spotlight, and it seemed inevitable that she would soon find a fitting husband. However, one day, she simply vanished.
At that time, Blanche was 26 years old, still pursuing her law degree, and living at home — as later news reports indicated.
After some time, those who were close to Blanche started to question her whereabouts. Yet, they all received the same response from her mother. Louise Monnier informed people that her daughter had “gone away” or was traveling. Eventually, as more time passed, many family members and friends of Blanche came to believe she had relocated abroad. Since they never got any definitive answers, people ceased to inquire about her.
No one had any clue that she was actually confined within her own home, enduring terrible conditions. It would take 25 years before anyone discovered her, and when she was finally found, an unbelievable story emerged.
A puzzling message
On May 23, 1901, a puzzling, unsigned letter was delivered to the office of the Paris Attorney General.
“Monsieur Attorney General, I am honored to bring to your attention a matter of great seriousness. A woman, who is a spinster, has been confined in Madame Monnier’s residence, half-starved and living in squalor for the last twenty-five years,” the letter stated.
When the police arrived at the Monnier villa to conduct their investigation, they encountered resistance. As reported by Crime Wire, Louise Monnier refused to allow them entry, even going so far as to peek her head out the window while disregarding their presence.
They ultimately forced the door open and were immediately overwhelmed by a foul odor. Ascending the stairs, they located the source of the smell – a locked attic door, where the stench was most pronounced.
After some difficulty, the officers managed to open the door and pry open a window that had been boarded up. Daylight finally streamed into the small room, exposing a grim sight. They forced their way into the attic, breaking down the locked door.
In the corner of the room lay Blanche, now in her early 50s, emaciated and skeletal, squinting at the sunlight that barely reached her. She was covered in old food, feces, and surrounded by bugs, weighing barely 55 pounds. The conditions were horrifying, a stark contrast to the vibrant young woman she had once been.
One officer later recalled:
“As soon as light flooded the room, we noticed, in the back, lying on a bed, her head and body covered by a disgustingly filthy blanket, a woman identified as Mademoiselle Blanche Monnier. The unfortunate woman was lying completely naked on a decaying straw mattress. All around her was a sort of crust made from excrement, bits of meat, vegetables, fish, and moldy bread. We also saw oyster shells and bugs scurrying across Mademoiselle Monnier’s bed.”
Message on the dirty walls
According to a 1901 article in the New Zealand Times, during rare moments of clarity, Blanche had inscribed on the dirty walls that surrounded her: “Will I ever regain my freedom, or am I destined to remain in this living tomb forever?”
The frightened woman was wrapped in a blanket and hurried to a hospital in Paris, where doctors initially feared for her survival. She was extremely malnourished, with tangled hair that hung down to her knees.
As Blanche was taken out of the villa, her mother, Madame Monnier, who was 75 at the time, sat calmly at her desk dressed in a lovely black-and-white outfit. She was promptly arrested and admitted to imprisoning her own daughter.
Reason for the confinement
According to Louise’s story, it all started one night in 1876 when Blanche quietly crept up the stairs to her room, trying not to disturb her mother and brother. Unbeknownst to her, they were already awake and waiting for her upstairs.
Together, they had concocted a plan: they would confine Blanche in a small attic room until she agreed to end her relationship with the lawyer she had fallen in love with. However, Blanche was more resolute than they had expected, Louise later informed the police. Once she adjusted to the pitch-black darkness and realized there was no escape, Blanche chose to wait her mother out. Yet, Louise was equally stubborn and refused to let her daughter go.
So, what was the reason behind this entire situation? Why would Louise imprison her own daughter for 25 years? The answer is rooted in love.
After years of searching for the right partner, Blanche finally found a man she loved. The issue was that he lacked wealth and did not belong to an aristocratic lineage. Although he was a lawyer, he was nearly broke. Some accounts suggest he was significantly older than Blanche, while others portray her affection for a young barrister who had “intellect but no fortune.”
Blanche was well aware that her mother, Madame Louise Monnier, would never give her blessing to this relationship.
Initially, Louise informed Blanche that she would remain confined in the small attic room until she ended the romance and agreed to seek a more appropriate husband. However, the days turned into weeks, then months, and ultimately years.
Louise Monnier’s final words
Even after the death of Blanche’s beloved in 1885, Louise would not allow her daughter to be free. The harsh grip of her mother’s control never eased, leaving Blanche confined in that small, dark room, her heart aching with each day that passed.
Hospital staff observed that, despite Blanche’s severe malnutrition, she remained surprisingly clear-headed. She even shared her happiness at the simple joy of breathing fresh air once more, describing it as “lovely.” In many respects, it was nothing short of miraculous that she had managed to survive at all.
Following Blanche’s release, the case took another shocking twist, making headlines worldwide. Louise Monnier, after recounting her story to the police, died from a heart attack in the prison infirmary one morning.
It had only been 15 days since her arrest, but her body could not withstand the pressure. The reality is, she was widely hated. Reports even mentioned an angry crowd gathering outside her residence, seemingly looking for retribution.
It is said that Louise’s last words were concerning her daughter: “Ah, ma pauvre Blanche,” she lamented.
Marcel Monnier
Blanche’s brother was charged with assisting his mother in the kidnapping and confinement of his sister.
The trial commenced on October 7, 1901, and just a few days later, Marcel Monnier received a sentence of 15 months in prison. The courtroom erupted in applause at the verdict – but that joy was short-lived. Marcel contested the ruling, asserting that Blanche had never been held against her will and could have left the house whenever she wanted, but she chose not to.
On November 20, 1901, Marcel was found not guilty. The court determined that, despite his legal education, he did not possess the mental capacity to act and liberate his sister. The judges criticized his lack of action but acknowledged that, at that time, the penal code did not explicitly define a “duty to rescue,” making it impossible to convict him legally.
Who was responsible for saving Blanche Monnier?
Over the years, many have speculated about the identity of the person who wrote the letter that ultimately led to Blanche’s rescue. Addressed to the public prosecutor of the city, the enigmatic note seemed to have been delivered outside of standard mail channels.
To this day, the identity of the deliverer remains a mystery. Some theorize it could have been penned by a former soldier who had connections with one of the family’s maids but felt no allegiance to the Monnier family. We may never uncover the author of the letter, but it is evident that without it, Blanche would likely have perished in her confined space.
The tale of Blanche Monnier, who endured 25 years of isolation, is enveloped in mystery and has sparked considerable speculation. Although it is evident that she was imprisoned in a small attic for decades, the precise circumstances of her confinement are difficult to confirm. Reports from early 20th-century newspapers were frequently biased or incomplete, complicating our understanding of the true events that transpired.
What we do know is that Blanche’s suffering drew significant attention, especially following André Gide’s 1930 book, La Séquestrée de Poitiers, which recounted her narrative. Gide, a Nobel Prize-winning writer, reportedly altered little of the chilling story aside from the names of the primary characters.
Blanche Monnier Netflix
Currently, there has not been a feature film about Blanche Monnier available on Netflix or any other platform. Nevertheless, there are numerous documentaries on the subject, along with several books that delve into her story.
While many uncertainties linger regarding the specifics of her tale, it is clear that Blanche’s bravery in the face of unimaginable adversity is worthy of remembrance.
We may never completely grasp the intricacies of her life, but her narrative continues to fascinate and motivate. Remember to share this remarkable journey with others — often, these concealed and tragic histories are the most crucial ones to acknowledge.