The Grasse Murder Panic

The collective fear, investigation, and social breakdown in Grasse during the serial murders.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

First Murder

First Murder Discovery A fifteen-year-old girl was found dead in a rose field, naked and shorn. The farmer was horrified. Suspicions Gypsies, Italians, wigmakers, and others were suspected. No one was caught. Growing Unease The town began to fear an unknown predator.

Escalation of Killings

Escalation of Killings More Victims Two Italian sisters were killed, then a Sardinian washerwoman. The murderer struck weekly. Fear Spreads People locked their daughters, formed patrols, and imposed a curfew. The police lieutenant was replaced. The Bishop's Anathema The bishop excommunicated the murderer. The killings stopped, but fear remained.

False Peace

False Peace Relief With no new murders, the town relaxed. A thanksgiving mass was held. Underlying Tension Richis and others remained wary. The murderer was still at large. Return of Fear When Laure Richis was killed, panic returned worse than before.

Arrest and Trial

Arrest and Trial Capture Grenouille was arrested after a guard recognized him. Evidence was found in his cabin. Public Exhibition The victims' clothes were displayed. The crowd demanded blood. Trial Grenouille confessed but gave no motive. He was sentenced to be broken on the wheel.

The Orgy and Aftermath

The Orgy and Aftermath Execution Day Chaos The crowd fell into a sexual frenzy, worshipping Grenouille. The execution was abandoned. Collective Amnesia Afterward, peopleashamed and erased the event from memory. Druot was executed as a scapegoat. Return to Normalcy Life quickly returned to normal. The murders were forgotten.

May 1765

June - September 1765

October 1765 - February 1766

late March 1766

15 April 1766 and after