Missing since April 10, 2025, 28-year-old jogger Agathe Hilairet from Vivonne (Vienne) was found dead this Sunday, May 4, in a wooded area south of the town. The young woman had been the subject of a nearly month-long search.
An autopsy has so far failed to determine the cause of death. The investigation is ongoing. According to Paris Match, Hilairet had left her parents’ home to go for a run and never returned.
On the night of her disappearance, her cellphone signal went dark in a forested area between “Les Grands Ormeaux” and “Le Champ Salaud” in Voulon, south of Vivonne. Her body was ultimately discovered nearby on May 4 by law enforcement officers.
The Poitiers prosecutor’s office confirmed that the autopsy did not reveal a definitive cause of death. Further forensic analyses are underway. Prosecutor Cyril Lacombe stated that the investigation is ongoing and that the gendarmerie remains fully engaged.
Twenty investigators still mobilized
From the outset, the gendarmerie deployed as many as 110 personnel, including aerial and canine units. Since then, around 20 investigators have continued the search full-time. In total, 215 interviews have been conducted, and nearly 900 witness statements have been collected.
Initially, an official inquiry was opened for abduction and unlawful confinement against an unknown person. Suicide was considered early in the investigation, but entries in Hilairet’s personal journal and a review of her online activity showed no signs of psychological distress. She was actively searching for a job.
For now, the questions remain: Did Agathe Hilairet fall victim to a dangerous encounter? Was she attacked? Did she suffer a fatal accident? Investigators are considering all possible leads as forensic work continues in hopes of shedding light on this tragedy.