Five Arrested After Kidnapping of Grenoble Magistrate and Her Mother

Five young suspects, aged between 18 and 20, have been arrested near Lyon in connection with the kidnapping of a 35-year-old magistrate from Grenoble and her mother. The arrests took place early on February 8, 2026, following a manhunt lasting less than three days. The two women had been abducted on February 6 in Bourg-lès-Valence, Drôme, after multiple assailants forcibly entered the magistrate's home in Isère, about 90 kilometers away. They were held captive for close to 30 hours in a garage before managing to escape on Friday morning when their kidnappers were temporarily absent.

The victims, found injured and in shock, were rescued with the help of a neighbor who heard noises from the garage door. They subsequently received medical attention at a local hospital. The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of 1.6 million euros in cryptocurrency from the magistrate's husband, who is connected to the cryptocurrency industry as an entrepreneur and co-founder of a consulting startup acquired by a major North American platform in 2024. No ransom payment was made.

Investigation efforts have been coordinated by the Brigade de recherche et d’intervention (BRI), Brigade de répression du banditisme (BRB), and the Lyon judicial police, under the supervision of the Lyon prosecutor’s office. Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran confirmed that the magistrate and her mother were able to free themselves and call for help during the kidnappers' absence.

The initial motive was thought to be related to the magistrate’s profession, but attention shifted to the involvement of her partner in the cryptocurrency sector. He received proof of life in the form of a photograph and a voice message from his partner during the ordeal.

Authorities continue their investigation into the case, focusing on the motives and accomplices of the suspects involved in this dramatic and high-profile kidnapping case.