In a dramatic turn of events, Monique Olivier, the widow of notorious French serial killer Michel Fourniret, has admitted her role in the 1990 rape and murder of British student Joanna Parrish. During her trial for three kidnappings and murders, Olivier confessed to being the “bait” in Parrish's tragic death. Confronted with images of Parrish's swollen face after her body was recovered from the river Yonne, Olivier tearfully exclaimed, "It's because of me she's gone, it's unforgivable."

As the courtroom fell into a somber silence, Olivier remained motionless in the glass-screened dock, staring at the haunting pictures before pushing them away with a trembling hand. Now 75 years old and serving a life sentence since 2008, Olivier's trial centers around her involvement in the abductions, rapes, and murders of Parrish and 18-year-old Marie-Angele Domece in 1988. Additionally, she faces charges of complicity in the disappearance of nine-year-old Estelle Mouzin in 2003, a case that remains unsolved to this day.

During cross-examination, Olivier described her role in Fourniret's horrifying “hunts” as being nothing more than "the dog that must obey its master." She recounted how she would remain in the front seat of their car while Fourniret climbed into the back to carry out his heinous acts. Trembling with fear and panic, Olivier admitted to doing nothing to save the victims, stating, "Like a coward, I do nothing, I hear her scream a little but I don't intervene. It's fear, panic, (I am) unable to do anything at all."

The Parrish family, deeply affected by the discussion of Joanna's murder, chose to leave the courtroom, avoiding Olivier's questioning. Their absence spoke volumes about the pain and grief they have endured since their beloved daughter's life was tragically cut short. Olivier, struggling to recall all the details of the crimes, acknowledged that her memories often became mixed with those of other victims, highlighting the extent of the horrific acts committed by Fourniret and herself.

Joanna Parrish's murder, which occurred in 1990, has remained a mystery for years. It is believed that Fourniret, who targeted virgins for his acts of violence, responded to a classified ad Parrish had placed offering English lessons. Hoping to earn money for a visit to her boyfriend in Czechoslovakia, Parrish unknowingly walked into the clutches of evil.

The victims of Fourniret and Olivier's twisted crimes were subjected to rape, and most were shot, strangled, or stabbed to death. The majority of these brutal acts took place in the Ardennes region of northern France and in Belgium. Olivier's involvement in these atrocities began when she fled her violent first husband in the early 1980s, subsequently becoming Fourniret's pen pal while he served a prison sentence for rape. Allegedly, they formed a pact in which Olivier would find him virgins to rape if he would kill her ex-husband. However, this part of their agreement was never carried out.

The couple's reign of terror began with the abduction and murder of 17-year-old Isabelle Laville in 1987. Olivier, driving a van, approached Laville as she walked home from school, pretending to be lost and in need of directions. Falling for the ruse, Laville entered the vehicle, unknowingly sealing her own fate. Fourniret later joined them, and Laville ultimately suffered a horrific fate at their hands.

For 16 years, Fourniret and Olivier continued their spree of abductions and killings, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. It was only in 2003 that their reign of terror came to an end when a 13-year-old girl managed to escape Fourniret's clutches, leading to the couple's arrest. Despite intensive searches, the bodies of Domece and Mouzin have never been found, leaving unresolved pain and unanswered questions for the families involved.

The pain felt by the Parrish family was palpable as they provided emotional testimony to the French court. Speaking on behalf of his daughter, Joanna's father, Roger, expressed the profound loss they have endured since her murder. Fighting back tears, he described the tragedy of losing a child to a deliberate act of murder, emphasizing that Joanna's life was cut short, depriving her of the future she deserved.

The trial of Monique Olivier serves as the families' only chance to uncover the truth behind the fate of their loved ones. With Fourniret's death in 2021, justice for his victims has been denied. Dubbed the "ogre of the Ardennes" by the media, Fourniret's legacy is one of unspeakable horror and pain. The families of his victims hope that this trial will finally bring closure and reveal the full extent of Fourniret and Olivier's reign of terror.