Christmas altered (to say the least)

The Schmitt family in France will have a subdued holiday this year as they mourn their first-born:

Last Sunday evening, Anne-Lorraine Schmitt, a 23-year old journalism student, the eldest of five children from a devout Catholic family, was stabbed to death on the RER suburban metro train. The stabbing happened at Survilliers, between the RER stations of Louvres and Fosses. Anne-Lorraine’s body was discovered in the RER terminus at Creil, 25 kms to the north. A few minutes later the French police arrested 43-year old Thierry Dève-Oglou.

According to the French police, Mr. Dève-Oglou “decided to rape the woman when he noticed that the train carriage was empty.” When Anne-Lorraine resisted and tried to escape, he threw himself on her and stabbed her up to 30 times in the chest and face. When the brave young woman fought back, her attacker cut himself in the hand. Mr. Dève-Oglou left the train station at Survilliers-Louvres, but police officers noticed the bleeding man and took him to hospital, where he was arrested.

It was not his first offense, nor were there any police or guards present on the notoriously dangerous rail line. This "quiet" incident has been overshadowed by the ongoing riots in Muslim neighbourhoods in response to an another unfortunate event. But those who discovered the attack on Anne-Lorraine were devastated, considering who she was.

The worst is that I knew this young woman. I had had time to judge and appreciate her during the two months as a student journalist that she spent last year at Valeurs Actuelles, where I was then editor-in-chief. Her name was Anne-Lorraine Schmitt, she was 23, and she seemed to have been one of those children who are born to fill their parents with joy and pride...
During her apprenticeship at Valeurs Actuelles, she impressed the editing staff by her general level of culture, her maturity, the demands she made on herself. Demands that probably were the result of her faith: she was profoundly religious and was deeply involved in the scout movement. None of which prevented her from being a young woman of her times, charming, brilliant and appreciated by all.

And yet, despite the unrelated fury of rioting Muslims, I wonder if we'll be hearing more about this tragic martyrdom of Anne-Lorraine, who died rather than submit to sexual assault. I'll keep you posted, and in the meantime, please remember this family in your prayers over Advent. It's not the Christmas they expected, to be sure.

[French speakers: more here and here.] Tragique.

Comments

[elena maria vidal]

How terrible. I will pray for her family, and for the restoration of law and order.

[Seraphic Single]

I had read about the rape attempt and murder, but not the details of the girl's life. Thanks so much for this post.