In the middle of the night while returning home from a camping holiday with his two young sons, a father is gunned down in a violent execution-style murder at a quiet rest area. Evidence of a ruthless assassin emerges, but resolution evades law enforcement in two separate countries.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
If you or someone you know has any information on the murder of Xavier Baligant please visit:
France’s Ministry of Justice National Unit for Serial or Unsolved Crimes (PCSNE)
https://www.justice.gouv.fr/pole-national-crimes-seriels-ou-non-elucides
PHOTO SOURCES
Xavier Baligant
Source: L’est Républicain
Malvaux Rest Area
Source: L’est Républicain
Episode Source Material
- RAFU Youtube Series: COLD-DRIVEN EXECUTION AT A HIGHWAY REST AREA: THE ATROCIOUS MURDER OF XAVIER BALIGANT
- L’est Républicain: A man was found dead, shot dead on the A31 near Colombey-les-Belles on the night of July 18 to 19, 2011. By Alain Thiesse and Aurore Gandelin. Published July 20, 2011. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: Youn Belgian shot on the A 31 near Nancy: settlement of accounts? By staff. Published July 20, 2011. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- HLN: Belgian tourist killed while children sleep in resting place French highway. By staff. Published July 20, 2011. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- HLN: Murder of Belgian along French highway filmed by camera. By staff. Published July 20, 2011. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: Shot down on the A31: a camera allegedly filmed everything. By Alain Thiesse and Aurore Gandelin. Published July 21, 2011. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- HBVL: Still no trace of murderers in the case of murdered Belgian. By staff. Published July 23, 2011. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: Murder of the A 31: no funeral before Tuesday for Xavier Baligant. By staff. Published July 26, 2011. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: Extended survey in Belgium. By Valerie Richard. Published August 3, 2011. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- HLN: Belgian investigation into murdered Belgian in France yields nothing negative. By staff. Published August 5, 2011. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: A31, murder: Xavier Baligant’s funeral took place. By Valerie Richard. Published August 5, 2011. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: “A Secret Investigation.” By staff. Published August 6, 2011. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- HLN: French police hear numerous witnesses in the case of murdered Belgian. By Staff. Published August 9, 2011. Accessed May 15, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: A31: killed with a weapon of war. By Alain Thiesse. Published August 29, 2011. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- HLN: Belgian was murdered with a weapon of war in parking lot in France. By staff. Published August 29, 2011. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: A31/Murder of Xavier Baligant: the trail of a privileged execution. By staff. Published September 26, 2011. Accessed May 15, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: At 31, murder of Xavier Baligant: on the trail of a contract. By Valerie Richard. Published September 27, 2011. Accessed May 15, 2026.
- HLN: Belgian Baligant shot dead with Swiss carabiner. By staff. Published January 23, 2012. Accessed May 22, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: A31 murder: Xavier Baligant’s ex-wife heard by the judge. By Alain Thiesse. Published February 15, 2012. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: Baligant case: “not a thug weapon.” By Alain Thiesse. Published February 20, 2012. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: A31 murder: a new track? By staff. Published March 15, 2012. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: Murder of the A31: the Belgian track. By staff. Published March 16, 2012. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: A31: unanswered murder. By staff. Published July 18, 2012. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: Crime of the A 31: real false track? By staff. Published July 20, 2012. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: Crime of the A31 and killing of Chevaline: similarities? By staff. Published November 20, 2012. Accessed May 22, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: From the A31 to the Savoy massacre. By Alain Thiesse. Published November 21, 2012. Accessed May 22, 2026.
- The Irish Sun: Do six clues link victims of the Alps assassin? By staff. Published November 24, 2012. Accessed May 22, 2026.
- HLN: Is Alpenmoorden serial killer racist tourist hater? By staff. Published November 25, 2012. Accessed May 22, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: The French gendarmerie is interested in the Swiss killer. By staff. Published January 4, 2013. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: Murder of Xavier Baligant on the A31: investigation stuck two years later. By Alain Thiesse. Published July 18, 2013. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: Murder of Xavier Baligant on the A31. By Alain Thiesse. Published November 25, 2013. Accessed May 22, 2026.
- DH Les Sports: Death of Xavier Baligant: “I want to know the truth about my son’s death.” By staff. Published July 19, 2016. Accessed May 23, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: Death of Xavier Baligant: the mystery remains intact. By Alain Morvan. Published July 21, 2016. Accessed May 23, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: Will DNA solve the murder of the A31? By Christopher Gobin. Published April 21, 2017. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: The disappointed hope of a camera. By staff. Published April 21, 2017. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- Le Parisien: Cold case of the A31: what if the truth was in the victim's cell phone? By Geoffroy Tomasovitch and Vincent Gautronneau. Published July 26, 2020. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- RTBF Actus: Who killed Xavier Baligant from Nivelle? Ten years after his death, still no answer. By Patrick Michalle. Published July 19, 2021. Accessed May 23, 2026.
- HBVL: French police are investigating whether notorious cold case is related to the murder of Belgian tourist: “So many similarities.” By Gilles Liesenbborghs. Published November 21, 2023. Accessed May 22, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: Chevaline killing and murder on the A31: a mysterious Danish camper present on each case. By Eric Nicolas. Published February 6, 2025. Accessed May 20, 2026.
- RTL: Xavier Baligant case: who is the mysterious killer of the Malvaux motorway? By Jean-Alphonse Richard and Lucille Meriaux. Published June 6, 2025. Accessed May 23, 2026.
- RTL: José Oliveira: “I am not the assassin of Xavier Baligant” By Christian Jougleux. Published July 21, 2012. Accessed August 7, 2026.
- Marriane: "The one who killed him wasn't alone": 14 years after Xavier Baligant's murder at a motorway rest area, his son testifies, by Jean Arca. Published June 11, 2026. Accessed August 7, 2026.
- L’est Républicain: Justice: The Xavier Baligant case transferred to the cold-cases unit. By Eric Nicolas. Published March 10, 2026. Accessed August 10, 2026.
- Geneanet: Xavier Baligant’s Family Pedigree, by Xavier Baligant. Accessed August 10, 2026.
- Non élucidé: Murder on the A31. By Yannick Adam de Villiers. Aired June 21, 2015. Accessed August 10, 2026.
- Le Soir: Nivelles’ Mihaela Jacobeus wants to be strong for her two children: "Xavier was my whole life". By Jean-Philippe de Vogelaere. Published July 30, 2011. Accessed August 10, 2026.