Michel Peiry: The 'Sadist of Romont' Remains Behind Bars as New Ruling Confirms He is Still a Danger
They are haunting images: Michel Peiry, an unassuming-looking man with glasses, who terrorised Switzerland in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Now, in March 2026, a new ruling from the justice system shows that the fear surrounding him hasn't faded to this day. The 'Sadist of Romont' will not be granted supervised leave from prison for the foreseeable future. The Federal Supreme Court has upheld a previous ruling on the matter, stating the risk of him reoffending remains 'clear and substantial.'
Five Murders, Countless Victims
Between 1977 and 1981, Peiry brutally murdered at least five young men. He lured his victims into his car while they were hitchhiking, tortured them, and often left their bodies mutilated. Forensic experts described the level of cruelty as virtually unparalleled. It was for these crimes that Peiry earned his chilling nickname: 'Le Sadique de Romont' (The Sadist of Romont). For a long time, the media labelled him 'Switzerland's forgotten gay serial killer' – a title that references his sexuality, but also the fact that, for a while, his crimes were overshadowed in the public eye by other high-profile cases.
The Artist Behind Bars
But Michel Peiry is not just a convicted murderer. Behind the prison walls, he began to paint – and his works found an unusual path into the public sphere. Some of his pieces, often depicting dark, surreal scenes, are now part of the Art Brut collection in Lausanne. This so-called 'raw art' gathers works created by inmates of psychiatric hospitals or prisons. Peiry's paintings have become sought-after collector's items, a fact that repeatedly causes outrage among the families of his victims. They see it as a mockery of the memory of those he killed.
Why He's Not Getting Out
Peiry, now 76, 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 gave him a firm refusal. The experts are unanimous: Peiry's fundamental personality structure hasn't changed. While he may have calmed down with age, his deep-seated inclination towards violence and sexual deviance remains. "You can't just release him back 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 is life – at least as far as real-world freedom is concerned. In his cell, he will be able to continue painting, continue putting his thoughts down on paper. For the families of his victims, this is little consolation. They have to live with the knowledge that the man who took their loved ones from them is still alive – even if he is locked away.
- 1977–1981: Five confirmed murders of young men in Western Switzerland.
- Nickname: 'Sadist of Romont,' due to the extreme cruelty of his crimes.
- Art: Peiry's paintings are featured in the renowned Art Brut collection in Lausanne.
- Current: Federal Supreme Court denies supervised leave – risk too great.
Michel Peiry, it seems, will forever remain the 'Sadist of Romont' – a name that will send shivers down spines in Switzerland for a long time to come.