Court dismisses charges in Gutton disappearance case
Court dismisses charges in Gutton case despite recovered physical evidence and witness statements.
Event / Security
Hugues Gutton Disappearance Case
Investigation into the 2013 disappearance of nursing aide Hugues Gutton from Saint-Étienne, France. After 13 years of investigation across six judges of instruction, a court issued a non-lieu dismissal in March 2026, which his family is appealing.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 10 Jun, 09:37 UTC
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What happened
Man disappears in France after leaving home to meet acquaintances
Hugues Gutton, a 50-year-old nursing aide from Saint-Étienne, France, disappeared on November 30, 2013. He left his home on foot with his wallet and phone to meet three acquaintances at a squat. Later that evening, the three men claim they left him at a location several kilometers away when he refused to return with them. He has not been seen or heard from since.
Hair evidence found in car but not analyzed
Hair elements, initially confused with blood, were discovered in the trunk of the car occupied by the four men on the night of the disappearance. The evidence was sealed because the analysis results at the time were too unclear or unusable. The car was subsequently cleaned and resold.
Car driver makes statement about potential homicide
During a phone call, the driver of the car allegedly said to another man: "He will end up like Hugues Gutton in the trunk of a car." The statement was characterized by authorities as a manner of speaking.
Missing man's identity card found in ravine
Hugues Gutton's identity card was discovered in a ravine approximately one kilometer from the location where the four men reportedly went, several days after his disappearance on November 30, 2013. A jogger found the card.
Three witnesses confronted in missing person investigation
One year before the court's non-lieu decision, the three protagonists from the evening of Hugues Gutton's disappearance were finally confronted with each other. The confrontation yielded no significant results in the investigation.
Court issues non-lieu decision in cold case
On March 16, a court decided to issue a non-lieu (dismissal) in the Hugues Gutton case. The missing man's family immediately filed an appeal, arguing that hair elements found in the car warrant further study. Six judges of instruction have been assigned to the case since November 2013. The case was proposed to the national unit for serial or unsolved crimes in Nanterre but was not retained.
Unknown person answers missing man's phone days after disappearance
Several days after Hugues Gutton's disappearance, his son and brother attempted to contact him by phone. Someone answered the call, but it was not Gutton. When police subsequently called and identified themselves, the person immediately hung up and did not answer further calls.
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2 alternative perspectives
Physical evidence emerges in French disappearance investigation
Physical evidence including an identity card and unanalyzed hair samples guide investigation into French disappearance.