Serial poisoner Hélène Jégado arrested in Rennes (1851)

Hélène Jégado, a French domestic servant and suspected serial poisoner, was arrested in Rennes on 1 July 1851. Her arrest followed a period of suspicion arising from deaths among her employers and colleagues, notably the death of maid Rosalie Sarrazin. Jégado's premature declaration of innocence triggered the arrest, marking the end of her active criminal period in the city.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Jégado moved to Rennes in 1849, joining the household staff of law professor Théophile Bidard in 1850. During this time, suspicion grew regarding her conduct. A colleague, Rosalie Sarrazin, fell ill and died in 1851. Jégado's behavior, specifically announcing her innocence before being questioned, aroused further suspicion, leading to her detention in the city.

Arrest. On 1 July 1851, Jégado was arrested in Rennes. The arrest was precipitated by the death of fellow maid Rosalie Sarrazin and Jégado's suspicious declaration of innocence prior to any formal questioning. This event concluded her active period of criminal activity in the region, which had resumed in 1851 after a decade of inactivity.

Context. Jégado was a domestic servant who had previously been active between 1833 and 1841. She moved to Rennes in 1849, where she worked for a law professor. The arrest occurred in the context of reported thefts and deaths among those she cared for, including her aunt and other employers, though the specific legal charges were determined later.

People involved

Sources

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