Michel Peiry: The 'Sadist of Romont' Stays Behind Bars – New Ruling Confirms He Remains a Danger
They are images that sear themselves into the memory: Michel Peiry, an unassuming-looking man with glasses, who terrorised Switzerland in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Now, in March 2026, there's a new ruling from the justice system that shows: the fear of him hasn't faded to this day. The 'Sadist of Romont' will, for the time being, not be granted supervised release from prison. The Federal Supreme Court has upheld a previous decision by lower courts – the risk of reoffending is still deemed 'clear and substantial'.
Five murders, immeasurable suffering
Between 1977 and 1981, Peiry brutally killed at least five young men. He would lure his victims, hitchhikers, into his car, torture them, and often leave their bodies mutilated. Forensic pathologists spoke of a level of cruelty that was virtually unparalleled. It was for these crimes that Peiry earned his chilling nickname: 'Le Sadique de Romont'. For a long time, the media labelled him 'Switzerland's forgotten gay serial killer' – a title that alludes to his homosexuality, but also to the fact that, in the public eye, his crimes were sometimes overshadowed by other, more sensational cases.
The artist behind bars
But Michel Peiry is more than just a convicted murderer. Within the prison walls, he began to paint – and his work found an unusual path into the public domain. Some of his pieces, which often depict dark, surreal scenes, are now part of the Art Brut collection in Lausanne. This so-called 'raw art' gathers works by inmates of psychiatric hospitals or prisons. Peiry's paintings have become sought-after collectors' items, a fact that repeatedly causes outrage among the victims' families. They see it as a mockery of the memory of those he killed.
Why he can't be released
The now 76-year-old Peiry had recently hoped to be allowed to leave the institution, at least under supervision – whether for walks or to run errands. However, the judicial authorities have flatly refused. The experts are in agreement: Peiry's personality structure has not fundamentally changed. While he may have become calmer with age, his deeply ingrained propensity for violence and sexual deviance persists. "You can't just release him into the world," said a long-serving prison psychologist who has followed the case for decades. "The likelihood of him reoffending is simply too high."
The horror remains
The Federal Supreme Court's decision means for Peiry: life imprisonment remains just that – at least as far as real freedom is concerned. In his cell, he will continue to be able to paint, to continue committing his thoughts to paper. For the bereaved families of his victims, this is scant consolation. They have to live with the knowledge that the man who took their loved ones from them still exists – even if he is locked away.
- 1977–1981: Five proven murders of young men in French-speaking Switzerland.
- Nickname: 'Sadist of Romont' due to the particular cruelty of his crimes.
- Art: Peiry's paintings are part of the renowned Art Brut collection in Lausanne.
- Current: Federal Supreme Court denies supervised release – risk too high.
So Michel Peiry will likely forever remain the 'Sadist of Romont' – a name that will continue to send a shiver down the spine in Switzerland for a long time to come.