Michel Peiry: The 'Sadist of Romont' Stays Behind Bars – New Judgment Affirms He Remains a Danger

They are images that burn into your 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 decision from the courts that shows: the fear of him hasn't faded to this day. The 'Sadist of Romont' will not be granted escorted leave from prison for the time being. The Federal Supreme Court has upheld a previous ruling by lower instances – the risk of him reoffending is still "clear and significant".

Five murders, endless suffering

Between 1977 and 1981, Peiry brutally killed at least five young men. He lured his victims, hitchhikers, into his car, tortured them, and often left their bodies mutilated. Forensic pathologists spoke of a level of cruelty that was virtually unprecedented. 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 reference to his homosexuality, but also to the fact that his crimes were, at times, overshadowed in the public eye by other high-profile cases.

The artist behind bars

But Michel Peiry is not just a convicted murderer. Within the prison walls, he began to paint – and his works found an unusual path to the public. 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 clinics or prisons. Peiry's paintings have become sought-after collector's items, a fact that repeatedly causes outrage among the victims' families. They see it as a mockery of the memory of those who were killed.

Why he can't leave

Peiry, now 76, had recently hoped to be allowed out of the institution at least under supervision – whether for walks or errands. However, the judicial authorities gave him a clear refusal. The experts agree: Peiry's personality structure hasn't fundamentally changed. While he may have calmed down with age, his deep-seated inclination towards violence and sexual deviancy remains. "You can't just release him into the world," said a long-standing prison psychologist who has followed the case for decades. "The probability that he will reoffend is simply too high."

The horror remains

The Federal Supreme Court's decision means for Peiry: life sentence means life – at least as far as real freedom is concerned. In his cell, he will continue to be able to paint, continue to put his thoughts on paper. For the survivors of his victims, this is little comfort. They have to live with the fact that the man who took their loved ones from them still exists – 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 the acts.
• Art: Peiry's paintings are featured in the renowned Art Brut collection in Lausanne.
• Current: Federal Supreme Court denies escorted leave – risk is too high.

So Michel Peiry will likely forever remain the 'Sadist of Romont' – a name that will continue to send chills down the spine in Switzerland for a long time to come.