Two years after the stabbing of 16-year-old Thomas Perotto outside the Crépol dance in Romans-sur-Isère, the investigation has still not identified the killer responsible. Thomas was killed after a gang of individuals broke into a local dance party and spread terror by attacking the participants with knives.
Fourteen young people, mostly from North African immigrant families living in the Cité de la Monnaie housing project, have been charged with murder and attempted murder as part of an organized group. Ten are in pretrial detention while four others remain under judicial supervision away from the Drôme region.
Not one of the fourteen suspects will confess to inflicting the stab wounds—and none will name the killer. The group stands firm, held together by a code of silence. However, wiretaps on the phone of one suspect enabled investigators to identify a possible perpetrator—a 19-year-old identified only as Yanis B.
Investigators have interviewed hundreds of witnesses and questioned the accused and dozens of civil parties. While several witnesses recall seeing Thomas Perotto collapse, nobody has been able—or willing—to identify his attacker.
The inquiry has revealed that three knives were used during the attack. In addition to Thomas, two other young men were seriously injured, along with a security guard who suffered a minor hand wound. In all, the attack saw 17 victims.
The tragedy remains a vivid memory in the Drôme region, with the murderer not yet formally identified by magistrates. Gendarmes present at the time of the attack described the incident as “homicide and attempts by an organised gang.”
