Editing Henri Désiré Landru (section)

== Murders (1915–1919) ==
The outbreak of [[World War I]] in August 1914 created a grim opportunity. With hundreds of thousands of Frenchmen mobilized or killed, newspapers filled with lonely hearts advertisements from war widows seeking companionship and security.{{sfn|Monesutie|1991|p=99}} Landru, exempt from service due to his age and dependents (and possibly his fugitive status), realized the appeal a seemingly stable man would hold. He began placing his own ads in major newspapers like ''Le Journal'', presenting himself as a respectable widower: "Widower with two children, aged 43, comfortable income, affectionate, serious, and moving in good society, desires to meet widow with a view to matrimony" or "Serious gentleman seeks widow aged 35 to 45, or woman unlucky in love."{{sfn|Monesutie|1991|p=99}}{{sfn|Rēn|1996|pp=58-59}}

He received a flood of replies, often expressing hardship and loneliness. Landru meticulously cataloged these letters in notebooks, prioritizing correspondents based on perceived wealth. He used categories such as "Returns reply poste restante," "No money," "No reply," "Returns reply poste restante with initials," "Probably has assets," "Reserve, further investigation required," discarding those deemed "propertyless." He focused on seemingly naive women with assets, gathering further information before initiating contact.{{sfn|Monesutie|1991|p=99}}{{sfn|Faidō|1997|p=148}}{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2830-2835}}

=== Murders at Vernouillet ===
In December 1914, Landru rented the Villa Ermitage in [[Vernouillet, Yvelines|Vernouillet]], 35 km northwest of Paris. This became the site of his first confirmed murders.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2831}}

==== Jeanne and André Cuchet (late January or early February 1915) ====
'''Jeanne-Marie Cuchet'''<ref group="n" name="Cuchet_variant">Also spelled Jeanne Koushet{{harvnb|Sairyakkusu|1996|pp=662-664}} or Jeanne Couchet.{{harvnb|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}}</ref> (39{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}}), an attractive Parisian lingerie seamstress widowed in 1909,{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|pp=142-143}}{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2812-2815}} had met Landru before the war, likely in 1914. He used the alias "Raymond Diard," claiming to be a postal inspector or industrialist from [[Lille]] displaced by the war.{{sfn|Monesutie|1991|p=99}} He charmed Jeanne, promising marriage and a secure future for her and her illegitimate son, '''André''' (then 16 or 17<ref group="n">Sources vary on André's age, stating 16{{harvnb|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2833}} or 17.{{harvnb|Monesutie|1991|pp=99-100}}</ref>), even offering to secure André a government job.{{sfn|Monesutie|1991|p=99}} Jeanne's sister and brother-in-law distrusted "Diard," sensing he was a fraud, but Jeanne dismissed their concerns.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2830-2835}}

After Landru disappeared briefly at the war's outbreak, a distraught Jeanne, accompanied by André and her brother-in-law, visited Landru's empty house near Chantilly. There, they found papers revealing his real identity (including marriage and criminal records).<ref name="HardyStatement"/>{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}}<ref name="FriedmanInterview"/> Despite this, and arguments over his reluctance to marry,{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2830-2835}}{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}} Jeanne reconciled with Landru when he reappeared. She severed ties with her warning family{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}} and, in December 1914, moved with André into Landru's rented villa in Vernouillet.{{sfn|Monesutie|1991|p=99}}{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2831}} André, meanwhile, was eagerly anticipating his early military recruitment.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2812-2815}}

Jeanne and André were last seen alive around 26 January 1915.{{sfn|Sairyakkusu|1996|pp=662-664}}<ref name="CuchetLetter"/> Shortly after, neighbours reported thick, acrid smoke smelling of burning flesh billowing from Landru's chimney. Investigating police accepted Landru's explanation that he was burning rubbish.{{sfn|Sairyakkusu|1996|pp=662-664}}{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2830-2835}} It is almost certain he murdered and incinerated them in his stove.{{sfn|Sairyakkusu|1996|pp=662-664}} Landru had deposited 5,000 francs (claimed as inheritance) in June 1914, which police suspected came from Jeanne.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}}

==== Thérèse Laborde-Line (26 June 1915) ====
'''Thérèse Laborde-Line'''<ref group="n">Also spelled Thérèse Laporte-Line{{harvnb|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}} or Laporte-Line.{{harvnb|Sairyakkusu|1996|pp=662-663}}</ref> (46{{sfn|Monesutie|1991|pp=99-100}}), an Argentine-born divorced widow and former hotelier, felt estranged from her son and daughter-in-law.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}}{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2833}} She met Landru in June 1915, likely through his May 1 advertisement or one she placed herself. On June 21, telling friends she was moving to her "future husband's house," she sold her furniture.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}} She was seen gardening at the Vernouillet villa but disappeared after June 26, 1915.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2830-2835}}{{sfn|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}} Landru subsequently sold her securities and stored some remaining furniture in his garage.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}}

==== Marie-Angélique Guillin (c. 3 August 1915) ====
'''Marie-Angélique Guillin''' (51{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}}), a retired housekeeper living near Gare de Lyon,{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}} inherited 22,000 francs and responded to Landru's May 1, 1915 ad.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}} Believing his story of being the next Consul-General to Australia needing a hostess wife, she visited his villa and returned apparently overjoyed.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}} On August 2, she moved from her apartment to Vernouillet. She vanished two days later, around August 3.{{sfn|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}} Landru sold her securities and, posing as her brother-in-law authorized to act for her due to paralysis, withdrew 12,000 francs from her bank account.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}} Starting in August, a trunk was left abandoned at a local train station. Months later, in February 1916, station staff noticed a foul odor; the trunk contained the badly decomposed, dismembered remains of an unidentified middle-aged woman.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2830-2835}}

{{Gallery
|title=Victims associated with Vernouillet
|File:Jeanne Cuchet.jpg|Jeanne Cuchet
|File:André Cuchet.jpg|André Cuchet
|File:Thérèse Laborde-Line.jpg|Thérèse Laborde-Line
|File:Marie-Angélique Guillin.jpg|Marie-Angélique Guillin
}}

=== Murders at Gambais ===
[[File:Landru Gambais 1919.jpg|thumb|Villa Tric ("L'Ermitage") in Gambais]]
By late 1915, neighbours in Vernouillet were suspicious. Feeling exposed, Landru sought greater seclusion. In December 1915, he rented the isolated Villa Tric, nicknamed "L'Ermitage" ('The Hermitage'),{{sfn|Monesutie|1991|pp=100-101}} in the village of [[Gambais]], south of Paris.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2831}} Situated 300 metres from the nearest house, it offered privacy.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}} Upon moving in, Landru promptly purchased a large [[Cooking stove|kitchen oven]]<ref group="n">Some Japanese sources refer to the appliance as a "stove" (ストーブ).{{harvnb|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}}</ref> and a large quantity of coal.{{harvnb|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}}

==== Berthe Héon (December 1915 or January 1916) ====
'''Berthe-Anna Héon''' (55<ref group="n">Sources vary, stating 54{{harvnb|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}} or 55.{{harvnb|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2833}}</ref>), a widow originally from Le Havre working as a cleaner near Paris, had endured significant personal losses, including her husband, lover, son in the war, and daughter.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2833}} She responded to Landru's second lonely hearts ad in summer 1915.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2830-2835}} Landru, posing as a businessman seeking a wife for a move to Tunisia,<ref name="LeJournal1915"/> convinced her to sell her belongings.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2830-2835}} On December 8, 1915, Landru purchased train tickets to Gambais: a return for himself, a single for her. Héon vanished soon after, presumed killed and incinerated in the new oven.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2830-2835}}{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}}{{sfn|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}} Landru later sent postcards to her friends, claiming to write on her behalf as she couldn't.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=143}}

==== Anna Collomb (27 December 1916) ====
'''Anna Collomb'''<ref group="n">Also spelled Ana Collomb{{harvnb|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}} or Ana Collombe.{{harvnb|Sairyakkusu|1996|pp=662-664}}</ref> (44<ref group="n">Sources vary, stating 44{{harvnb|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2812-2815}} or 45.{{harvnb|Monesutie|1991|pp=99-100}}</ref>), an intelligent, attractive widow working as an insurance company typist, had 10,000 francs saved.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|pp=144-145}} She had a partner but seemingly couldn't marry him.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|pp=144-145}} She answered Landru's May 1, 1915 ad (claiming to be 29{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2812-2815}}), perhaps seeking a stepfather for her illegitimate young daughter reportedly placed with nuns in Italy (the child was never found).{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|pp=144-145}}{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2812-2815}} Landru delayed meeting her until 1916 due to involvement with other victims.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|pp=144-145}} Once they met, Collomb quickly preferred Landru to her existing partner.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2830-2835}} Her family distrusted Landru but couldn't deter her.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|pp=144-145}}{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2830-2835}} Collomb's sister visited the couple at Gambais on December 14. Anna Collomb disappeared after December 27, 1916.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2831}}{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|pp=144-145}}{{sfn|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}}

==== Andrée Babelay (12 April 1917) ====
'''Andrée-Anna Babelay'''<ref group="n">Also spelled Andrée Bablay.{{harvnb|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}}</ref> (19{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=145}}), described as pretty but poor, worked as a domestic servant or nanny, possibly supplementing her income with casual prostitution.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=145}}{{sfn|Monesutie|1991|p=99}} Landru encountered her crying on a Paris Métro platform in early 1917 after she ran away from home following a quarrel with her mother.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=145}} He invited her to his rented room near Gare du Nord, where they lived for ten days. On March 11, she visited her mother, announcing she was getting married. On March 29, Landru took her to Gambais (again, return ticket for him, single for her). She stayed for two weeks, seen learning to ride a bicycle by a game warden.<ref name="Lecoq"/> Babelay disappeared after April 12, 1917.{{sfn|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}}{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2831}}{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=145}} Prosecutors suggested she was killed either because she witnessed something incriminating or because Landru, initially attracted by her youth, simply tired of her.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=145}}

==== Célestine Buisson (c. 1 September 1917) ====
'''Célestine Buisson'''<ref group="n">Also spelled Célestine Buisson{{harvnb|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}} or Buisson.{{harvnb|Monesutie|1991|pp=99-100}}{{harvnb|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=145}}</ref> (47, though reported as 44 in one source{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2814}}), a homely, trusting, semi-literate, and reportedly frugal widowed housekeeper,{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2814}} had around 10,000 francs saved from her late husband's hotel business.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2814}}{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2813-2814}} Lonely after her illegitimate son was mobilized, she answered Landru's May 1, 1915 advertisement.{{sfn|Rēn|1996|pp=58-59}} Landru (as "Georges Frémyet") corresponded sympathetically, became "engaged" quickly, but then stalled the marriage for over two years, blaming lost documents and fabricated business trips abroad.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=145}} He reappeared in July 1917. They grew closer after he assisted with her sister's funeral, and he proposed again.<ref group="n">One theory suggests the delay was due to Buisson's reserved nature.{{harvnb|Monesutie|1991|pp=99-100}}</ref>{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=145}}{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2826-2827}} Her family found "Frémyet" evasive and suspicious but couldn't sway Célestine.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2813-2814}} Entrusting her son to her half-sister, Marie Lacoste,{{sfn|Rēn|1996|pp=58-59}} Buisson moved to Paris with Landru. On August 19, Landru bought the familiar one return, one single ticket pattern for Gambais.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=145}} She disappeared after September 1, 1917.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2831}}{{sfn|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}} Landru's bank balance soon increased by 1,000 francs.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=145}}{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2826-2827}} He later returned to her apartment, showed the concierge a forged authorization letter, claimed Buisson was running a canteen for US troops in the south, and aggressively removed and sold her furniture.{{sfn|Faidō|1997|p=148}}{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2826-2827}}

==== Louise Jaume (c. 26 November 1917) ====
[[File:Jaume, Louise Léopoldine.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Louise Léopoldine Jaume]]
'''Louise-Joséphine Jaume'''<ref group="n">Also spelled Louise Joumet.{{harvnb|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}}</ref> (38{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2833}}), a devout Catholic dress shop assistant, was recently divorced.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2833}} She met Landru (as "Lucien Guillet", a supposed refugee from the Ardennes) through a marriage bureau in summer 1917. She initially resisted his advances due to her faith{{sfn|Monesutie|1991|pp=99-100}} but eventually accepted his proposal after attending Mass with him at Sacré-Cœur. Landru took her to Gambais on November 15, 1917, with a single ticket.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=146}} She disappeared around November 24 or 26, 1917.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2831}}{{sfn|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}} Landru stole her 275 francs and withdrew 1,400 francs from her bank account on November 30.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=146}}

==== Anne-Marie Pascal (5 April 1918) ====
'''Anne-Marie ('Annette') Pascal'''<ref group="n">Also spelled Ann Marie Pascal.{{harvnb|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}}</ref> (36), also divorced,{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=146}}{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2833}} worked as a dressmaker near Père Lachaise Cemetery and possibly engaged in prostitution.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2833}} Nicknamed "Mme Sombrero" for her hats, she sought a "sugar daddy" and responded to Landru's ad in ''La Presse'' in September 1916.<ref name="Tomlinson37"/> She became his mistress. Uniquely, she expressed fear of Landru, writing to her aunt days before disappearing: "I don't know who he is, but I'm scared. When he looks at me with those eyes, it chills me. There's something demonic about him."{{sfn|Monesutie|1991|pp=100-101}} On April 5, 1918, Landru took her to Gambais (single ticket); she vanished.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=146}}{{sfn|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}} Landru and his son Charles later sold her furniture.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=146}}

==== Marie-Thérèse Marchadier (13 January 1919) ====
'''Marie-Thérèse Marchadier'''<ref group="n">Also spelled Marchandier.{{harvnb|Monesutie|1991|pp=99-100}}</ref> (37, though reported as 36 in one source{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2833}}), originally from Bordeaux, ran a small boarding house on Rue Saint-Jacques, Paris, and engaged in prostitution. She was known for walking her two beloved Belgian Griffon dogs.<ref name="Tomlinson71"/> Heavily indebted, she contacted Landru (under an alias) in late 1918, possibly after seeing an ad offering to buy furniture, or perhaps having met him years earlier.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=146}}<ref name="Tomlinson71"/> Landru, needing cash himself, borrowed from his wife to potentially buy Marchadier's property. He proposed marriage; she replied her only wish was to live in the country.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=146}} He took her to Gambais on January 9, 1919. Despite her strong will, she agreed to cohabit and sell her furniture, receiving 2,000 francs after returning briefly to Paris.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=146}} On January 13, 1919, Landru escorted her back to Gambais, reportedly carrying two bags of coal.{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|p=146}} She disappeared that day.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|p=2831}}{{sfn|Rēn|Gureggu|1995|p=198}} On January 16, neighbours reported nauseatingly foul smoke pouring from the villa's chimney.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2830-2835}}

{{Gallery
|title=Victims associated with Gambais
|File:Berthe Héon.jpg|Berthe Héon
|File:Anna Collomb.jpg|Anna Collomb
|File:Andrée Babelay.jpg|Andrée Babelay
|File:Célestine Buisson.jpg|Célestine Buisson
|File:Jaume, Louise Léopoldine.jpg|Louise Jaume
|File:Anne-Marie Pascal.jpg|Anne-Marie Pascal
|File:Marie-Thérèse Marchadier.jpg|Marie-Thérèse Marchadier
}}

=== Pursuit and arrest ===
The key to Landru's downfall was the persistence of the victims' families, particularly Marie Lacoste (sister of Célestine Buisson) and Victorine Pellat (sister of Anna Collomb). After receiving no reply to letters sent to Buisson at Gambais regarding her blinded son, Lacoste contacted the mayor of Gambais in January 1919.{{sfn|Rēn|1996|pp=60-62}} The mayor, initially unhelpful, eventually put her in touch with Pellat, who had made similar inquiries about Anna Collomb earlier.{{sfn|Rēn|1996|pp=60-62}}{{sfn|Wiruson|Pittoman|1963|pp=144-145}} The two women compared notes, realized the man described (using aliases like "Frémyet" and "Dupont") was the same person, and filed missing persons reports with the prosecutor for Seine-et-Oise.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2812-2815}}<ref name="LacosteAudition"/>

Their complaints eventually reached Inspector Jules Belin of the Paris ''brigade mobile''. While Belin later took credit,<ref name="Belin report"/> the crucial break came on 11 April 1919. Lacoste's friend, Laure Bonhoure, who had previously seen Landru, recognized him shopping on the Rue de Rivoli with a young woman (Fernande Segret).<ref name="Tomlinson arrest"/>{{sfn|Sairyakkusu|1996|pp=662-664}}{{sfn|Rēn|1996|pp=60-62}} Bonhoure alerted Lacoste, who phoned Belin. The inspector obtained the business card Landru (using the alias "Lucien Guillet") had left at the shop, revealing his address: 76 Rue de Rochechouart, near Gare du Nord.{{sfn|Monesutie|1991|pp=100-101}}<ref name="Belin report"/>

After obtaining the correct warrant, Belin and two officers arrested Landru at his apartment around midday on 12 April 1919.{{sfn|Shōshin Shobō|1997|pp=2830-2835}}<ref name="DeslogeresReport"/> As he was led away, Landru reportedly sang an aria from Massenet's opera ''[[Manon (opera)|Manon]]'' to Fernande Segret.{{sfn|Sairyakkusu|1996|pp=662-664}}