| Alexia Daval | |
| Birth Name: | Alexia Fouillot |
| Birth Date: | 16 February 1988 |
| Birth Place: | Gray, Haute-Saône France |
| Death Place: | Gray-la-Ville |
| Death Cause: | Strangulation |
On October 31 2017, Alexia Daval (18 February 1988-October 30, 2017) was reported missing by her husband Jonathann Daval, who was later found guilty of her murder. The murder shocked France.[1] [2] [3] [4] A few months later, her husband was arrested by the police, where he confessed to his crime. On November 21, 2020, Daval was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The case generated widespread public interest and shock throughout France. Many were deeply disturbed by the violent nature of the crime and the fact that it involved a seemingly normal couple. The revelation that Jonathan Daval, who had initially portrayed himself as a grieving husband, was involved in his wife's death further fueled public outrage and disbelief. Vigils and silent marches were held in memory of Alexia, reflecting the community's grief and support for her family. As details of the case emerged, particularly the toxic relationship and the violent messages, the public's perception of the couple shifted, leading to a more nuanced view of the tragedy. The trial attracted significant media coverage, with many people closely following the proceedings
Alexia Fouillot was born on February 18, 1988, in Gray Haute-Saône. She has an older sister Stéphanie, and a brother. Her parents run a PMU bar in Gray, a town where her mother is a municipal councilor, she graduated with a master's degree in educational sciences and became a banker, in 2004, when Alexia was sixteen she met Jonathan Daval, a 20-year-old student, according to their friends, it was first romance and they had a relationship for 11 years before they were married on July 18, 2015.[5]
Jonathan Daval was born on January 16, 1984, and grew up in Velet (Haute-Saône). He has four brothers and two sisters. His father died of a heart attack when he was young, and his mother later had a child with a construction worker. The couple excelled in sports and shared a common passion for running. According to the couple's friends, they seemed to love each other.[6]
On the morning of October 28, 2017, according to her husband Jonathan, Alexia Daval left their marital home in Gray-la-Ville to go jogging and was later reported missing by her husband. Her brother-in-law, Grégory Gay, who is married to Alexia's sister, noticed Daval's behavior.The case, which echoed several murders of female joggers committed in France since the 2000s, made headlines and attracted significant media attention. immediately reported by the media and caused great emotion on a national level. It created the beginnings of panic in the region, particularly among walkers, hikers and other outdoor sports enthusiasts, many of whom were in the area where Alexia was supposed to have gone running. In addition, many local residents knew her parents, who were very involved in the life of the community. Hundreds of people took part in the various tributes paid to Alexia in particular November during a " white march " organized in Gray.[7]
Alexia's remains were discovered two days later en under branches in a wood in Esmoulins, a town near Gray-la-Ville and Gray, in the Bois de la Vaivre[8]
Public prosecutor Emmanuel Dupic then opened a judicial investigation for murder, entrusting the investigation to the Besançon research section. The cause of Alexia's death was determined to be that she was beaten and strangled, likely by someone she knew.
Alexia's relatives spoke at the end of the silent march. Stéphanie Fouillot described her sister as a "pretty, independent, and brilliant young woman with a strong character." Her mother prayed that Alexia was alive and would come home, while her husband Jonathan pleaded for her safe return along with her in-laws.[9]
Alexia's family defended Jonathan as the police initially suspected him but ruled him out. It was only after three months of investigation that they clearly turned their attention to him, when a witness, a neighbor of the Davals, came forward after seeing his car driving on the day Alexia disappeared. Jonathan then became the main suspect and Alexia's parents were convinced their son in law an innocent man. the police uncovered an analysis of A GPS system that confirmed a trip that night, and experts discovered that the tire tracks found near the body matched those of his car. The arrest of Daval took place on January 29, 2018. After 30 hours of denial in police custody, Jonathan confessed to the crime.[10] [11] before In front of his mother-in-law, Isabelle, who showed a photo of Alexia, Daval broke into tears. Her sister and brother-in-law, Grégory Gay, were also present. Daval had falsely accused Grégory of being his wife's killer.
The police uncovered Alexia's phone, which revealed some fairly violent text messages towards her husband. Alexia's "overwhelming" personality towards her husband became a point of the defense's argument. The suspect's defense noted that when Alexia became pregnant around the summer of 2017 and miscarried, it strained their relationship. However, her sister testified at the trial that Jonathan seemed outgoing and ignored his wife. The messages revealed toxic fights between the couple, particularly about their sex life. Their friends were shocked to hear this. Daval's lawyer also commented on the situation by said Alexia was aggistor one.[12] [13] [14]
The trial began on November 16, 2020, at the Assize Court of Haute-Saône and Territoire de Belfort in Vesoul. During the trial, Alexia's family and friends testified about how the couple's relationship had deteriorated. Alexia's mother, Isabelle, confronted her son-in-law as he apologized to Alexia's family, his mother Martine Henry said that her son was good person.The trial concluded on November 21, 2020, with Jonathan Daval being found guilty of the murder of his wife, Alexia Daval. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The court found that Jonathan had deliberately killed Alexia and attempted to cover up his actions by initially reporting her missing and later participating in public appeals for her return.[15] [16] [17]