The daughter of convicted rapist Dominique Pelicot reflects on the trauma her family endured and her mission to raise awareness about drug-facilitated sexual assault.
Daughter of Dominique Pelicot Condemns Father: 'He Should Die in Prison'
Daughter of Dominique Pelicot Condemns Father: 'He Should Die in Prison'
Caroline Darian opens up about her father's horrific crimes and her fight against chemical submission.
Caroline Darian's life was irrevocably changed when she received a phone call from her mother, Gisèle Pelicot, announcing the shocking truth about her father, Dominique. “He should die in prison. He is a dangerous man,” Caroline declared in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Emma Barnett, highlighting the pain and devastation caused by her father's predatory actions.
In November 2020, Caroline learned that her father had been drugging her mother for nearly a decade, enabling other men to sexually assault her. During this tumultuous period, Caroline described her emotions as akin to “an earthquake” or “a tsunami.” Dominique Pelicot was eventually sentenced to 20 years after an unprecedented trial that revealed not just his crimes, but also the broader issues of rape and gender-based violence.
The trial's findings uncovered that Dominique recruited more than fifty men, all while documenting their assaults on Gisèle, who was often unconscious due to the drugs administered by her husband. He was apprehended after an incident of upskirting, which prompted further investigation into his unlikely double life.
Caroline has since turned her trauma into advocacy, focusing on the largely unnoticed crime of chemical submission, where victims are incapacitated by substances, often without their knowledge. Victims frequently lack memory of the assault, leaving them with little recourse. This drive for awareness led her to write a book titled “I'll Never Call Him Dad Again,” detailing her family's harrowing experience and delving into the implications of drug-facilitated abuse.
Despite the deep personal toll, including Caroline's belief that she too was victimized by her father, she has found strength in her family. Together with her mother and brothers, they are working to rebuild their lives. Caroline emphasizes the importance of sharing their story, particularly to educate young people about sexual abuse and its consequences.
Dominique Pelicot's conviction ensures that he will remain behind bars for a significant period, possibly never seeing his family again. Meanwhile, Caroline acknowledges the hard road ahead as she strives to distance herself from her father's legacy while championing the cause of those victimized in silence. As she continues this fight, Caroline is driven by resilience, her commitment to aiding other survivors, and the love for her own family, especially her young son.
In November 2020, Caroline learned that her father had been drugging her mother for nearly a decade, enabling other men to sexually assault her. During this tumultuous period, Caroline described her emotions as akin to “an earthquake” or “a tsunami.” Dominique Pelicot was eventually sentenced to 20 years after an unprecedented trial that revealed not just his crimes, but also the broader issues of rape and gender-based violence.
The trial's findings uncovered that Dominique recruited more than fifty men, all while documenting their assaults on Gisèle, who was often unconscious due to the drugs administered by her husband. He was apprehended after an incident of upskirting, which prompted further investigation into his unlikely double life.
Caroline has since turned her trauma into advocacy, focusing on the largely unnoticed crime of chemical submission, where victims are incapacitated by substances, often without their knowledge. Victims frequently lack memory of the assault, leaving them with little recourse. This drive for awareness led her to write a book titled “I'll Never Call Him Dad Again,” detailing her family's harrowing experience and delving into the implications of drug-facilitated abuse.
Despite the deep personal toll, including Caroline's belief that she too was victimized by her father, she has found strength in her family. Together with her mother and brothers, they are working to rebuild their lives. Caroline emphasizes the importance of sharing their story, particularly to educate young people about sexual abuse and its consequences.
Dominique Pelicot's conviction ensures that he will remain behind bars for a significant period, possibly never seeing his family again. Meanwhile, Caroline acknowledges the hard road ahead as she strives to distance herself from her father's legacy while championing the cause of those victimized in silence. As she continues this fight, Caroline is driven by resilience, her commitment to aiding other survivors, and the love for her own family, especially her young son.
