Jean-Claude Romand

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Jean-Claude Romand (born February 11, 1954) is a French impostor and murderer who pretended to be a medical doctor. He killed his family when he was about to be exposed.

1 Early life
2 The deception
3 Aftermath
4 Fiction
5 External links

[edit] Early life

Jean-Claude Romand was born in Clairvaux-les-Lacs. He studied at the lycée of Lons-le-Saunier until his baccalauréat. In 1971, he registered at the classes préparatoires of lycée du Parc in Lyon, but dropped out after one semester. Afterwards he enrolled as a medical student.

[edit] The deception

The deception began with a simple lie: Romand claimed that he had passed a second-year medical examination that he did not sit. He therefore never qualified as a doctor, a fact unknown to his peers.

Romand fooled his family and friends for 18 years; they thought he was a successful medical professional and researcher in the World Health Organization. He managed to give an impression that he had researched arteriosclerosis and he had contacts with political figures.

In reality, he spent his days wandering and used free information services of the local WHO building. Periodically he left for a supposed work trip but only travelled to Geneva-Cointrin airport and spent a couple of days in a hotel room there, studying a travel guide for a country he was supposed to be in.

On January 9, 1993 Romand killed his wife, both of his children, his parents and the family dog. He also made an attempt on an ex-lover's life by trying to strangle her with a cord. When she struggled, he released her and drove her home, apologising for trying to harm her. He then set alight his house and took an overdose of barbiturates, intending to burn with his home. He was rescued and police soon figured out the truth.

[edit] Aftermath

Romand's trial began on June 25, 1996. On July 6, 1996 Romand was sentenced to life imprisonment.

[edit] Fiction

French author Emmanuel Carrère entered into correspondence with imprisoned Romand to write a book L'Adversaire (The Adversary) based on the case. Nicole Garcia directed a movie based on the book; actor Daniel Auteuil played the part of Romand. Two other movies were made based off of the Romand's life: Time Out and Nobody's Life (English Titles). Romand's deception also formed the basis of a 2005 episode of the BBC crime drama Waking The Dead.