Tears Of A Killer

Did this sobbing mother know more than she was letting on?

- Kara O'neill

THE STORY

Super smiley – that’s how everyone who met little Fiona Chafoulais, 5, described her.

‘She was very sociable and loved being around people,’ her father Nicolas Chafoulais said.

Fiona lived with her mother Cecile Bourgeon, 30.

Cecile had split from Nicolas in March 2012.

Soon after the break-up, Cecile fell in love with Berkane Makhlouf and he moved in.

A year later, on that sunny afternoon in May, Cecile took Fiona to their local park.

Cecile said she’d fallen asleep on a bench for 15 minutes, as her daughter played.

She was six-months pregnant with Makhlouf’s child at the time, and often felt tired.

But when she woke up, little Fiona had gone.

Distraught, Cecile called police that evening to report her daughter missing.

Had she wandered off alone?

Or had she been taken..?

A massive public appeal was launched.

Dozens of officers combed the park, searching for Fiona.

The community in Clermont- Ferrand, France, where the little girl lived, was horrified.

They rallied around Cecile, pitching in where they could to help find her child, putting up posters and handing out leaflets.

A hotline was set up so anyone with information could get in touch.

But, months later, there was still no sign of her.

Beside herself, Cecile appeared on TV several times, tearfully appealing for the safe return of her daughter.