Fifteen years after his disappearance, the case of Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès continues to evoke new hypotheses. On the set of Tout beau, tout neuf (TBT9) on April 21, Gilles Verdez mentioned a rumor that is gaining traction: the possibility that the fugitive is still alive in the United States. A testimonial from San Francisco supports this theory.
A rumor revived regarding a presence in the United States
On the TBT9 set, the Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès case has a new twist. Disappeared in April 2011, following the discovery of the bodies of his wife, their 4 children, and their dogs, Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès “could be in San Francisco” according to a circulating rumor.
This theory is supported notably by Bruno de Stabenrath, presented as a close associate of the fugitive, who spoke in the media Legend.
A detailed testimonial in the Chinatown neighborhood of San Francisco
At the core of this hypothesis is a detailed account reported by Bruno de Stabenrath.
“Every time, there are people who say they have seen him. For me, the only testimonial I received (…) was from a Nantes family who knew Xavier very well.”
According to him, this family had a direct link with Dupont de Ligonnès, who had rented their house for three years in Pornic. The testimonial takes place in a specific location: the Chinatown neighborhood of San Francisco.
“The mother named Catherine is in line to buy food. Behind her, a guy shoves her. When she turns around, eye to eye, she sees Xavier,” recounts Bruno de Stabenrath.
“They both recognize each other very well”
This family testimonial does not stop there, as she affirms that they recognize each other: “Xavier recognizes her. They both recognize each other very well,” reports Bruno de Stabenrath.
The scene ends abruptly: “Xavier steps back and then disappears running.” For Gilles Verdez, this testimonial is particularly striking since Xavier had been “their tenant for 3 years”, which, according to him, leaves little room for error.
A silent testimonial for several years
According to Bruno de Stabenrath, this information was not made public immediately for several reasons. The Nantes family was afraid of media frenzy, as well as not being taken seriously.
“This woman was afraid of finding a horde of journalists in front of her house (…) and so she did not speak publicly about it,” he explains.
A hypothesis deemed “credible” but not confirmed
Gilles Verdez, however, tempers this lead: “It is not certain.” But he specifies: “he thinks it is a credible theory.”
At this stage, no official statement confirms this presence in the United States, although this theory has already been mentioned on the TBT9 set. Check out our article on the analysis of this American hypothesis by Michel Mary.
A new element in an ongoing case
This testimonial adds to many other stories that have emerged over the years, without any leading to certainty about the location of Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès.
To understand the profile and behavior described by another witness, you can also refer to our article on the testimonial of an inn director, broadcast on TBT9.
Watch the free replay of the full April 21 episode of TBT9 on M6+ or ad-free with M6+MAX.
