“She would have become a great lady”, says her mother

The trial of Nordahl Lelandais opens on January 31, 2022 in Grenoble. Media attention is focused on the defendant, accused of the murder of little Maëlys, 8, in the summer of 2017. What Maëlys’ mother deplores, who is releasing a book * on her daughter. Jennifer de Araujo wants to pay tribute to her little girl, before being confronted with a man who has been “walking” them from the start, she told Le Parisien: “We have doubts about everything: we don’t know if he raped her, what she died of, what were the last words she said…” Maëlys’ mother wants to finally know the truth: “I would also like him to explain to me how he convinced her to get into his car. The problem is that, from the beginning, he walks us. He will give his version of the facts and we will have to deal with it. I’m getting ready”. Jennifer de Araujo awaits a heavy sanction, “that he be condemned to remain in prison as long as possible, considering all the evil he has done and that he could still do”. An ex-companion of Nordahl Lelandais interviewed described a manipulative man, capable of being funny and generous to achieve his ends.

Remembering Maelys

This mother wants to find the real image of her daughter, full of life, loving football, animals, dancing. “She would have become a great lady, caring and generous”, says his mother. Maelys “was brave and strong. She transmitted her strength to me”. Jennifer de Araujo remembers “his look, his smile, his voice too.” With this book, she wants to restore them, because “This is how I want to be remembered”, said his mother.

*Maelys, by Jennifer De Araujo, with Tiphaine Pioger, Robert Laffont, 280 p., 19 euros.