Eugen weidmann biography channel 6

Eugen Weidmann was a German-born criminal who became infamous as the last person publicly executed in France. He was born on September 5, , in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, into a family of businessmen. During the outbreak of World War I, Weidmann was sent to live with his grandparents.

Last public execution in france 1977

In prison, Weidmann befriended two men, Roger Million and Jean Blanc, who would later become his accomplices in their criminal activities. Upon their release, they decided to stick together and target wealthy tourists visiting France. To achieve this goal, they moved to France, where Weidmann rented a villa in Saint-Cloud, near Paris.

Their first kidnapping attempt failed as the victim put up a strong resistance, forcing the criminals to release her. However, undeterred, the trio made a second attempt in July De Koven was charmed by the tall and handsome German man who introduced himself as Siegfried. Unbeknownst to her, Weidmann drugged her with a glass of milk and later strangled her, burying her in the basement of his rented villa.

Weidmann and his accomplices then sent a letter to De Koven's uncle demanding a ransom for her return.

Eugen weidmann last words

Her brother, Henry, arrived in France and offered a reward for any information about his sister's disappearance, but their efforts were in vain as she was already dead. Weidmann continued his spree of crimes, killing Joseph Couffy, a chauffeur whom he hired for a trip to the French Riviera. He shot Couffy in the back of the head, stole his money and car.

In September of the same year, Weidmann, together with Million, murdered Janine Keller, a personal nurse, and stole her money and diamond ring in the Forest of Fontainebleau.