10 Grisly Facts Surrounding Blanche Monnier, Who Was Locked Up Just For Falling In Love

6 /10 Marcel Turned On Her

You would think that Marcel would be ready to squeal on his mum by then, but no. Instead, Marcel turned on his sister in court. He alleged that she was full of rage and “overly excitable.”

That she chose incarceration instead of ending her love affair, so they determined that she was deranged. And that was why they shut her up in the attic.

To support his argument that she was mentally ill before they imprisoned her, he said that she never struggled or tried to leave through the attic window. She had given up.

5 /10 His Testimony Was Rejected

Marcel’s argument didn’t hold water. The police argued that she was not violent when they found her. There were even sentences scrawled on the attic wall that indicated she was with her mental faculties when she was locked up.

Also, she had not shown any violence towards the nurses and doctors and was even grateful for the bath they gave her. She couldn’t have left the house either; she weighed 55 pounds (roughly 25 kg) and was too weak to move.

4 /10 Her Family Didn't Serve Any Time

The court found Blanche’s mother and brother guilty. But Madame Monnier died before she could serve her jail time. She died 15 days after her arrest. On the other hand, Marcel was sentenced to a year in jail.

However, being an ingenious lawyer, Marcel appealed and argued his way to freedom. The appeal court ruled that there was no “duty to rescue someone you didn’t imprison” rule in that time’s penal code. And Marcel was set free.

3 /10 Blanche Lost Her Mind

Even though she had regained her freedom, Blanche lost something else. Her mind. Yes, the right doctors and nurses at Hotel-Dieu had nursed her to health, and she had added a few pounds.

But Blanche was still far from okay, mentally. She also suffered from eating disorders and several mental illnesses. She was later transferred to a sanitarium and died in 1913.

2 /10 It Was Normal To Confine People Then

People have often wondered why it took so long to rescue Blanche and why the neighbors did nothing.

When Blanche went missing from the social circles, her mother spread the story that she was mentally ill and was being taken care of. At that age, family members could confine mentally ill relatives under lock and key.

So, the neighbors didn’t bat an eyelid. And probably attribute her screams to her deteriorating mental state.

1 /10 It Was Normal To Confine People Then

No one has any idea of who wrote the letter that tipped off the police. No one has come forward.

But there are suggestions that the anonymous writer may have been a soldier or suitor courting one of the maids that served in the Monnier house. Some also speculate that it may have been Marcel himself who sent the letter. 

However, we may never know who that good Samaritan was. All we know is that Blanche was robbed of her youth and her mind by her blood relatives.

And this is one of many other stories of abused women because they wanted to make their own life choices. And that some of these tales, much like their victims, have never seen the light of day.