Leone Bouvier

Murderer

1known / alleged victims

Similar offenders

Denise Labbé Murderer · France · 1954 Denise Labbé was convicted of the murder of her 2-year-old daughter, Catherine.… 1 victim

Pauline Dubuisson Murderer · France · 1951 Pauline Dubuisson was the mistress of a German Colonel at 17. She kept a notebo… 1 victim

The Marquise de Brinvilliers Murderer · France · 1664 Marie-Madeleine-Marguerite d'Aubray, Marquise de Brinvilliers (c. 1630–1676) wa… 54 victims

Florence Rey Murderer · France · 1994 Florence Rey was born August 25, 1975. She was 19 years old at the time of the… 4 victims

Simone Weber Murderer · France · 1980 Simone Weber was 60 years old at trial. She was described as “round and dowdy”… 2 victims

Charlotte Corday Murderer · France · 1793 Marie-Anne Charlotte Corday d'Armont (July 27, 1768 – July 17, 1793), known by… 1 victim

Random profiles

Mauro Antonello Mass murderer · Italy · 2002 Mauro Antonello was a 40-year-old construction worker, former security guard an… 7 victims

Travis Lee Gibson Murderer · USA · 2000 Travis Lee Gibson received sentences of death on 2001. On automatic and direct… 1 victim

Thomas Henry Allaway Murderer · United Kingdom · 1921 On 22 December 1921, an advertisement appeared in the “Morning Post” from Miss… 1 victim

Horacio Reyes-Camarena Murderer · USA · 1995 Sentenced to death on January 21, 1997 Horacio Alberto Reyes-Camarena was 47 wh… 1 victim

Mohammed Adam Omar Murderer · Yemen · 1995 Mohammed Adam Omar was a morgue assistant at Sanaa University’s medical faculty… 16 victims

JO John Casablanca Murderer · USA · 1965 John Casablanca entered a plea bargain to three counts of manslaughter in 1965.… 5 victims

Case Facts

Gender: female
Country: France
Location: Nantes, Pays de la Loire, France
Date of birth: February 12, 1930
Age at first offence: 23
Characteristics: —
Victim profile: Emile Clenet, 22 (her lover)
Method of murder: Shooting ( .22 automatic pistol)
Date(s) of murder: February 27, 1953
Years active: 1953
Date of arrest: Same day
Status: Life imprisonment
Sentenced to life in prison on December 10, 1953

Case Summary

Case record: Leone Bouvier

Background

Leone Bouvier murdered her lover because he was going away from her. At the trial, she stated that she had shot him dead because she loved him. If she couldn't have him she wanted to make sure no-one else did.

Leone was an illiterate 23-year-old French girl who, after several disastrous relationships, became involved with a 22-year-old mechanic, Emile Clenet.

As time passed, Leone became pregnant and then lost the child and her job. Her parents seemed to turn against her, and Emile started to reject her. Without any means of support, she became a prostitute.

The offence

Leone bought a gun and had it with her when she next met Emile. She supposedly was hoping for a reconciliation, but when this did not come she shot her lover through the neck.

At the trial she stated:

She had shot him dead because she loved him. If she couldn't have him she wanted to make sure no-one else did.

Trial

Leone Bouvier was tried for murder, and she went to the meeting with the gun. Even though premeditation was not proved, she was found guilty.

Sentencing

Leone Bouvier was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 1953.

She was sentenced to life in prison on December 10, 1953.

Other details

Leone Bouvier had a sister, Georgette, who managed to escape to a covenant at Angers, becoming a disciplined nun.

Leone’s family circumstances were described as involving “corruption of her father’s alcoholism and her mother’s irresponsibility and lack of heart.”

A weekly arrangement existed between Leone and Emile: “every Sunday.” It was described that Emile would be annoyed when Leone arrived on a weekday because “Their arrangement was only for Sundays, he said. It was a weekday. She must leave.”

A quoted exchange was included:

“Emile could be cruel, too. Once, snapped by a street photographer, the couple went to pick up the picture. Emile took one look and said he didn’t want it. When Leone asked why, he said: “Just look at that face and you’ll understand.” She hurried off to cry alone…It took her all night to cycle the 30-odd miles to Nantes where Emile worked. But when she got there in the morning, Emile was annoyed. Their arrangement was only for Sundays, he said. It was a weekday. She must leave.”

The narrative also described the lead-up to the shooting: Leone was said to have purchased a “.22 automatic pistol” and then shot Emile in the neck after kissing his cheek and saying goodbye.

Spotted an error, or have more information about this case?