Historical house in Montpellier linked to a missing child

In Montpellier, a house known by the nickname "The House of Sacrifice" has drawn attention due to a historical account of a missing child. This house, also referred to as "The House of Crime," is said to be located facing the Dominican convent at the mouth of Rue Fabre.

Account from a 1908 book

According to Louis Grasset-Morel's work Montpellier, ses sixains, ses îles et ses rues, ses faubourgs, published in 1908, a four-year-old boy, the child of the servants of the general prosecutor of Rignac, disappeared from the house. The book recounts the events as part of a broader historical narrative of the city.

Search and discovery of the child’s body

A search led to a locked room, where the child's body was found after the door was forced open. The account suggests that suspicions fell on the son of the magistrate, who was also the godfather of the young boy. This detail adds a layer of personal conflict to the tragic event.

Two possible explanations presented

The author presents two versions of the incident: one involving murder following sexual violence and another suggesting a sacrifice to the devil. These interpretations reflect the mystery and the moral ambiguity surrounding the case, which has remained a point of local interest for over a century.