Christine and Léa Papin: A Tragic Case of Violence and Social Struggle
On the evening of 2 February 1933, a brutal double murder shocked the quiet French town of Le Mans. Christine and Léa Papin, two sisters employed as live-in maids, viciously murdered their employer’s wife, Madame Léonie Lancelin, and her daughter Genevieve. The grotesque nature of the crime – which involved the gouging of eyes and savage mutilation – stunned the nation, with the case later becoming symbolic of the era’s class struggles. French intellectuals such as Jean Genet, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Jacques Lacan would all comment on the case, using it to discuss the roles of power, oppression, and mental illness. The Papin sisters’ crime became a subject of plays, films, essays, and even songs, ensuring that this tragic episode would resonate long after their sentencing.
Early Life and Family Struggles
Christine Papin was born on 8 March 1905, and her younger sister Léa followed on 15 September 1911. Both were born into a deeply troubled family in Le Mans, France. Their parents, Clémence Derré and Gustave Papin, had married in 1901 after rumours circulated that Clémence had been having an affair with her employer. Gustave, suspecting infidelity, uprooted the family by taking a job in another city. However, Clémence, determined not to leave Le Mans, refused to go with him, marking the beginning of a bitter and volatile marriage. Gustave began to drink heavily, and their home life deteriorated rapidly.
Christine and Léa’s early years were shaped by their parents’ dysfunctional relationship. Clémence, deemed an unfit mother, gave Christine to her paternal aunt and uncle shortly after her birth. She thrived in their care for the first seven years of her life, away from the instability of her parents’ home. Meanwhile, Léa was sent to live with her maternal uncle. Tragedy struck the family in 1912, when it was alleged that Gustave had raped their eldest daughter, Émilia. Rather than sympathising with her child, Clémence believed that Émilia had seduced her father and sent her to a strict Catholic orphanage, Bon Pasteur. Soon after, Christine and Léa were also sent to the same orphanage, where they remained until they were old enough to work.
Their parents divorced in 1913, and the sisters’ bond grew closer during their years at the orphanage, where they found solace in each other’s company. Émilia, however, distanced herself from the family entirely, eventually joining a convent and severing ties with them.
The Sisters’ Employment and Life with the Lancelins
Upon leaving the orphanage, both Christine and Léa were placed into domestic service, trained in household tasks by the nuns. Despite Christine’s desire to join a convent, Clémence forbade it, forcing her daughter into work. Christine was regarded as a diligent and capable worker, though she could be defiant at times. Léa, in contrast, was quieter, more introverted, and considered less intelligent. They preferred to work together when possible and found employment in several households in Le Mans, with their mother pushing them to seek better pay.
In 1926, the sisters found positions with the Lancelin family at 6 rue Bruyère. Monsieur René Lancelin, a retired solicitor, lived there with his wife Léonie and their daughter Genevieve. The Papin sisters’ duties were demanding, but for a while, their work was well-received. Christine worked as a cook, while Léa served as a chambermaid after Christine persuaded Madame Lancelin to hire her. Despite long hours of labour, they were content to be together. However, Madame Lancelin’s mental health began to decline over time, and the sisters became the focus of her frustrations. She scrutinised their work harshly, and tensions grew. There were reports of Madame Lancelin physically assaulting the sisters, slamming their heads against walls during her bouts of anger.
The Murders
The tragic events unfolded on the afternoon of 2 February 1933. Madame Lancelin and Genevieve had returned home after a shopping trip, and tensions quickly escalated when they were informed of a power outage caused by a faulty iron. Madame Lancelin reportedly flew into a rage and attacked the sisters. What followed was a scene of unimaginable violence.
Christine was the first to snap, viciously attacking Genevieve and gouging her eyes out. Léa joined the struggle, following Christine’s orders to do the same to Madame Lancelin. The brutal onslaught did not end there. Christine fetched a hammer and a knife from the kitchen, and the sisters proceeded to beat and slash their victims, using a pewter pitcher to bludgeon their heads. The sheer ferocity of the attack rendered Madame Lancelin and Genevieve unrecognisable, their bodies savagely mutilated.
Later that evening, Monsieur Lancelin returned home and was unable to gain entry. Suspecting something was amiss, he fetched a policeman who eventually discovered the horrific scene inside. Madame Lancelin’s eyes were found in her scarf, and Genevieve’s eyes had been scattered across the floor. Fearing for the sisters’ lives, the policeman went upstairs only to find their bedroom door locked. Upon entering, he discovered the Papin sisters lying naked in bed together, a bloodied hammer beside them.
The Trial and Psychological Evaluation
The Papin sisters confessed to the murders without hesitation, claiming that they had acted in self-defence. During the trial, the sisters’ relationship came under scrutiny, with some speculating that they had an incestuous bond. Christine, particularly, exhibited alarming behaviour, including trying to gouge out her own eyes during a fit in prison.
The court appointed several doctors to assess the sisters’ mental state, but despite their erratic behaviour, they were deemed sane and fit to stand trial. It was later suggested that the sisters suffered from “Shared Paranoid Disorder,” a rare condition that often affects closely bonded individuals who live in isolation. The more dominant partner in such relationships – Christine, in this case – can exert control over the more submissive one, as Léa was believed to be.
However, during the September 1933 trial, medical testimony noted a history of mental illness in the family. Their uncle had died by suicide, while their cousin was living in an asylum. The psychological community struggled and debated over a diagnosis for the sisters.
The jury took just 40 minutes to reach a verdict. Christine was sentenced to death, although this was later commuted to life imprisonment, while Léa, seen as being under her sister’s influence, received a 10-year sentence.
Aftermath and Legacy
The separation from Léa proved too much for Christine. Imprisoned and unable to see her sister, her mental health deteriorated rapidly. She refused food and eventually died of cachexia, or “wasting away,” in 1937. Léa fared better and was released early due to good behaviour, living out her days in obscurity under a false identity. Some reports suggest that she died in 1982, while others claim she lived until 2001, having suffered a stroke that left her unable to speak.
The Papin sisters’ case became a potent symbol for French intellectuals, many of whom viewed it as a commentary on class struggle and the dehumanising nature of servitude. Jean Genet’s play The Maids was directly inspired by their story, while Jacques Lacan used the case to explore his theories on the psyche and social dynamics. Their story also featured in Simone de Beauvoir’s writings, further cementing their role in the intellectual landscape of 20th-century France.
The tragic lives and brutal crime of Christine and Léa Papin continue to fascinate and horrify, their story a dark reflection on the intersections of class, mental illness, and human fragility.
Sources:
1. Kellerman, Stewart. “The Tragedy of the Papin Sisters.” Crime Archives, 2020.
2. Greer, Kate. “The Gruesome Papin Sisters Murders.” History Collection, 2019.
3. Genet, Jean. The Maids. Grove Press, 1954.
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