Daughter’s Harrowing Journey: A Story of Unimaginable Betrayal and the Fight Against Chemical Submission
Warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual abuse.
In November 2020, Caroline Darian received a devastating phone call that would irrevocably alter her life. Her mother, Gisèle Pelicot, revealed that her husband, Dominique, had been drugging her for a decade, enabling multiple men to sexually assault her.
"I lost what was a normal life," Caroline reflected, now 46. "It was like an earthquake. A tsunami."
Dominique Pelicot was ultimately sentenced to 20 years in prison following a historic three-and-a-half month trial in December. Four years later, Caroline maintains that her father "should die in prison," underscoring the gravity of his crimes.
The case drew attention not only for the horrific acts perpetrated by Dominique but also for the involvement of over fifty men who he had recruited online to assault Gisèle. The investigation began after Dominique was apprehended for upskirting in a supermarket, revealing a disturbing trove of evidence, including thousands of videos on his devices showing his unconscious wife being victimized.
This trial brought significant awareness to issues surrounding rape and gender violence, particularly the unsettling phenomenon of chemical submission—drug-facilitated assault. Caroline has since dedicated her life to advocating for victims of this underreported crime, emphasizing that many victims lack memory of the assaults and may not even recognize they were drugged.
In the aftermath of the revelations, Caroline and her brothers gathered in southern France to support their mother, who was grappling with the realization of her husband’s monstrous actions. The impact of being shown evidence—including disturbing images from her father’s laptop—deeply traumatized Caroline.
"I know that he drugged me, probably for sexual abuse. But I don’t have any evidence," she asserts. This cruel reality is shared by countless victims who often go unheard due to the absence of physical proof.
After her father’s crimes were exposed, Caroline penned a book that conveys her familial trauma and explores the issue of chemical submission, highlighting that many of the drugs used in these assault cases often come from familiar sources—medications found in the home.
Today, Caroline advocates for the rights and voices of abused women, determined to shine a light on the horrors of chemical submission and to educate children about sexual abuse. Her family is slowly rebuilding, and while her mother Gisèle continues to recover, their journey remains fraught with emotional challenges.
As Caroline navigates her complex identity as the daughter of both a victim and an abuser, she remarks, "I am totally different from Dominique." She underscores that her father, now 72, poses a continuing danger and should never be allowed to return to society.
In her resolve to foster awareness of chemical submission, Caroline draws strength from her loved ones, including her husband, brothers, and ten-year-old son. Reflecting on the seismic events of that fateful November night, she is determined to move forward, focusing on creating a better future for herself and advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves.