Portuguese police have arrested Cedric Prizzon, a former French police officer and fathers' rights activist, after the bodies of his partner and ex-partner were found buried in an isolated area near Meda in northern Portugal. The 42-year-old suspect was detained on Wednesday with his two children, a 12-year-old boy and an 18-month-old girl, in a vehicle containing a pump-action shotgun, fake documents, and approximately $20,000 in cash.
Core Facts and Immediate Action
- Arrest and Discovery: Portuguese authorities arrested Prizzon near Meda after locating two bodies identified as his partner, Audry Cavalier, and ex-partner, Angela Cadillac. The victims' identities were confirmed by the High Council for the Judiciary, though formal identification procedures are ongoing.
- Legal Proceedings: A court in Vila Nova de Foz Coa remanded Prizzon in custody on Thursday, charging him with aggravated homicide, desecrating a corpse, and kidnapping. The two children are being returned to France, and a judge prohibited Prizzon from contacting them.
Background and Context
- Custody Battle: Prizzon had been involved in a bitter custody dispute with his former partner, Cavalier, and had previously been convicted of harassing her after illegally taking their son to Spain in 2021. He had been stripped of his custody rights.
- Prior Convictions: The suspect, a former rugby league youth international, had a history of legal troubles, including the 2021 incident where he abducted his son and fled to Spain.
- Evidence Seized: Portuguese police found a pump-action shotgun, fake documents, and number plates, along with cash in the vehicle Prizzon was driving.
- French Investigation: French authorities had been searching for Prizzon since the women disappeared from their homes in the Aveyron region of south-central France last week. Cavalier, a 40-year-old insurance company employee, was reported missing after failing to show up for work.
Ongoing Procedures
- Forensic Work: Portuguese officials are continuing to identify the victims and consolidate evidence. The National Republican Guard (GNR) released a statement detailing the seized items and the suspect's arrest.
- Child Welfare: The two children are being returned to France, and authorities have ensured they will not have contact with Prizzon.