In November 2020, 83-year-old Paulette Landrieux, who had Alzheimer’s, vanished without a trace from her home in Andenne, Belgium. The last person to see her was her husband, her caregiver. Despite a huge search, there were no leads for two years.
Then, an image from Google Maps helped solve the mystery, showing her final moments and leading to the discovery of what happened to her.
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A sudden disappearance left investigators baffled
Paulette seemed to disappear into thin air. Despite an intense search, which included helicopters, drones, and even sniffer dogs, no one could figure out where she went.
The Google Maps car captured her final moments
On November 2, 2020, Paulette wandered out of her house and walked across the road just as a Google Maps car was snapping pictures of her street, Rue Reppe. It was the first time in 11 years that Google had updated the imagery for her area, and the “Street View” captured Paulette walking down the stairs to her neighbor’s garden.
A heartbreaking image also captured her husband nearby
At the same time, her husband was outside hanging up laundry. The Google Maps car also took a 360-degree panoramic photo that showed him doing so, along with Paulette.
Assumptions about the Meuse River misled investigations
For two whole years, no one knew where Paulette was. Her family believed she must have fallen into the nearby Meuse River, which is just a short walk from their house.
A sleuth’s efforts on Google Maps provided the missing clue
Finally, someone trying to trace Paulette’s steps using Google Maps and Street View found footage of her walking across the road in a white jumper and black pants.
The discovery led police back to her neighbor’s garden
After the discovery, the police started looking in her neighbor’s garden, right across from Paulette’s home.
A tragic fall had been hiding in plain sight
It turned out Paulette had fallen from an open section of the neighbor’s garden, and tragically, she had passed away shortly after the fall. She was found at the bottom of a hill, just below the garden.
The internet reacted to the unbelievable discovery
On Reddit, people were shocked that it took so long for Paulette to be found just a hundred meters from her house. “There was a huge search, and she was found in her neighbor’s garden? That’s unbelievable,” one person commented.
Another added, “I can’t believe they only found her because of Google Maps showing her crossing the street. Were they even trying?”
Timing made all the difference in her final image
Others were amazed by the perfect timing of the Google Maps car. One user said, “Were those photos taken the day she went missing? If so, wow! Good job, Google!”
Another added, “Not just the day, but the exact moment. If it had been 10 seconds earlier, she would’ve been in her walkway, and there would’ve been no clue.”
The heartbreaking resolution brings questions and closure
After two years, Paulette was finally found, but her tragic story raises questions about how such a close location could’ve been missed for so long. While the discovery brings closure, it also highlights the difficulties of searching for vulnerable individuals like Paulette.
It’s a heartbreaking story, but at least it gave Paulette’s family the answers and closure they needed. Sometimes the smallest details can make all the difference, even after all this time.
