Michel Peiry: The 'Sadist of Romont' Stays Behind Bars – New Ruling Confirms He's Still a Danger

They are the kind of images that burn themselves into your memory: Michel Peiry, an unassuming-looking man with glasses, who terrorized 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 surrounding him hasn't faded even today. The "Sadist of Romont" will not be granted any escorted leave from prison for the foreseeable future. Switzerland's Federal Supreme Court has upheld the lower courts' decision, stating the risk of him reoffending is still "clear and substantial."

Five Murders, Countless Victims

Between 1977 and 1981, Peiry brutally murdered at least five young men. He would lure his hitchhiking victims into his car, torture them, and often leave their bodies mutilated. Forensic pathologists described the level of cruelty as virtually unprecedented. It was for these crimes that Peiry earned his chilling nickname: "Le Sadique de Romont". For a long time, the media dubbed him "Switzerland's forgotten gay serial killer" – a label that references his homosexuality but also the fact that his crimes were, for a time, overshadowed in the public eye by other high-profile cases.

The Artist Behind Bars

But Michel Peiry is more than just a convicted murderer. From within the prison walls, he began to paint – and his works found an unusual path to the public. Some of his pieces, often depicting dark, surreal scenes, are now part of the Art Brut collection in Lausanne. This genre of "raw art" gathers works by inmates of psychiatric hospitals or prisons. Peiry's paintings have become sought-after collector's items, a fact that repeatedly sparks outrage among his victims' families. They see it as a mockery of the memory of those he killed.

Why He Can't Go Free

Peiry, now 76, had recently hoped to at least be allowed out of the institution under escort – whether for walks or errands. However, the judicial authorities have given him a clear "no." The experts are in agreement: Peiry's fundamental personality structure hasn't changed. While he may have mellowed with age, his deeply ingrained inclination toward violence and sexual deviance remains. "You can't just release him back into the world," said a longtime 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 sentence means life – at least as far as actual freedom is concerned. In his cell, he'll be able to continue painting, continue putting his thoughts on paper. For the surviving families of his victims, that's cold comfort. They have to live with the knowledge that the man who took away the person they loved most is still out there – even if he is locked away.

• 1977–1981: Five confirmed murders of young men in French-speaking Switzerland.
• Nickname: "Sadist of Romont" due to the exceptional cruelty of his crimes.
• Art: Peiry's paintings are featured in the renowned Art Brut collection in Lausanne.
• Current: Federal Supreme Court denies escorted leave – risk too high.

So, Michel Peiry will likely forever remain the "Sadist of Romont" – a name that will send shivers down spines in Switzerland for a long time to come.