‘Unsolved Mysteries’ Creator Shares “The Most Interesting Tip” in Xavier Dupont Case

Netflix‘s Unsolved Mysteries has plenty of head-scratching episodes, but that’s not stopping viewers from putting their amateur detective skills to the test. And in the case of Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès‘ disappearance, one sleuth may have made a crack in the case that’s been puzzling investigators for nearly a decade. 

When Xavier and his family seemingly disappeared in France in 2011, authorities discovered a much more horrifying reality. The family hadn’t fled, they’d been murdered. The bodies of Xavier’s four children and wife were found buried in his backyard, but the family patriarch was nowhere to be found.

Xavier, the prime suspect in the murder case, had left Nantes, where he lived with his family, and traveled south, fleeing the scene of the crime. He withdrew money from an ATM machine, left a paper trail of receipts from restaurants and bars, and was recorded on a security camera in a hotel parking lot. But then, he disappeared for good…

Or did he? In an interview with today with Variety, Unsolved Mysteries creator Terry Dunn Meurer shared an update about Xavier. “We got the most interesting tip,” she said. “Somebody was actually in Chicago, I think they were on Lake Shore Drive, and they heard this guy talking French and they looked at him and they had just seen the episode. They sent us a photo, and it really did look like Xavier. It was striking. So we sent that tip on.”

Those close to the case or the family suggest Xavier had fled to Latin America, noting that he’s bilingual in French and English, and that he’s proficient in Spanish, as well.

Although the tip seemed to fit Xavier’s profile, Meurer explained that they’re looking for a specific lead to truly crack open the case and track Xavier down. “This is just a stranger,” she explained. “In the Xavier case, what we’re hoping for is that he’s remarried or he has a girlfriend or he lives next door to somebody or he has a coworker who absolutely 100% knows that’s him.”

As investigators and journalists pointed out in the episode, Xavier is generic-looking enough that he could be mistaken for anyone. With tips pouring in from all over the world, Meurer is hopeful they’ll find him. “With Netflix’s global reach, if Xavier is going to be found, we’re really hoping that the Netflix audience will find him,” she said.

Have a tip about Xavier Dupont? Anyone with helpful information about the cases on Unsolved Mysteries is encouraged to visit unsolved.com and share any relevant clues or tips.

Stream Unsolved Mysteries on Netflix