Gisèle Pelicot's ex-husband is a convicted rapist. Now he's being investigated for murder.

Content warning: This article contains graphic details of sexual assault.

For almost a decade, Dominique Pelicot repeatedly drugged and raped his then-wife Gisèle Pelicot, and invited strangers into their home to rape her while unconscious.

He was found guilty earlier this week, only with 50 other men. The 72-year-old will now spend the maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars.

But Gisèle may not be his only victim.

Pelicot is now being investigated for any potential involvement in two cold cases from years past: the rape and murder of a Paris real estate agent in 1991, and the attempted rape of another estate agent in 1999.

After Pelicot's initial arrest in 2020, investigators in Nanterre, France, reopened both cases.

While working as an estate agent in 1999, a woman known only as Estella B claimed she survived a rape attempt in the Paris suburb Sein-et-Marne

The then-19-year-old told police that the attacker had walked into her office and said he urgently wanted to view a top-floor rental flat, giving a false name and address.

Once in the flat, Estella alleges she was pushed to the ground on her stomach before having her hands bound with rope. She said her mouth and nose were covered with a fabric soaked in ether — a liquid that can have an anaesthetic effect.

"It smelled very strong… it made my head turn," she told investigators. "I was a prisoner in my body and felt I couldn't move."

Estella said the attacker removed some of her clothes and held a knife to her neck. But the 19-year-old fought back before locking herself in a cupboard, and the man left.

At the time of the attack, Pelicot was 46 and had previously worked as an estate agent himself.

In 2010, DNA evidence from the scene showed a match with Pelicot, but for unknown reasons, it did not make it into the case file.

When the case was re-opened following his arrest, police noticed Pelicot's DNA matched blood found on Estella's shoe.

Upon questioning, Pelicot denied involvement, until he was presented with the DNA evidence. He then admitted to attempted rape, but denied using a knife as a weapon. He is expected to face trial at a later date.

Pelicot told authorities he had "an impulse" when he saw the woman, but when he took her trousers off he realised she was the same age as his daughter and felt "blocked".

Police noticed similarities between this case and a cold case from eight years earlier — the rape and murder of estate agent Sophie Narme in 1991.

Sophie Narme, who was allegedly raped and killed in 1991. Image: X/@AmauryBucco.

According to French publication Le Monde, Narme was a 23-year-old estate agent in Paris who was raped and killed while showing an apartment to an unknown man.

The attacker is alleged to have choked her, forced her onto her stomach, made her inhale a chemical, and used a bladed weapon.

Pelicot's DNA was not found at the scene, and the 72-year-old has vehemently denied any involvement in this case. He remains under formal investigation.

Florence Rault, a lawyer for the families of the two women, said police work on both of the cold cases would continue, per The Guardian.

"Investigations are ongoing so we have to see what that brings. There are likely to be further interviews in the cases.

"Clearly the families hope that they will one day have a definitive answer and a conviction in court," she added.

Pelicot's ex-wife Gisèle said she had been unaware of any prior crimes. During the trial, she told the courtroom: "When I discovered that he'd attempted to rape a young woman the same age as his daughter, it was like an explosion."

Gisèle's lawyer, Antoine Camus — who is also representing other members of her family — said they are concerned there may be more crimes yet to be uncovered.

"Today, my clients struggle to believe that between 1999 — to just take one date — and 2011, Dominique Pelicot was off playing board games," Camus said.

"My clients, unfortunately, rule nothing out and are eaten up by anxiety over discovering even more, and over years."

Between 2011 and 2020, Dominique Pelicot put powerful tranquillisers into his wife's food and coffee to put her to sleep for hours. He would then rape her and invite dozens of other men to assault her as well.

Police believe 72 men had gone to the house to rape and abuse Gisèle, but they were not able to identify them all.

Authorities say Dominique would recruit perpetrators via an online chatroom, where members fantasised about performing sexual acts on non-consenting partners.

He was discovered in 2020 when Pelicot was caught trying to take photographs up the skirts of women in a supermarket.

Police then found more than 20,000 photos and videos on his computer drives revealing the horrifying secrets that he had hidden from his now ex-wife for a decade.

During the trial, Gisèle — who has now gone back to using her maiden name — waived her right to anonymity and demanded that horrifying videos of the serial abuse should be seen in court, rather than hidden behind a veil.

Explaining her choice, she said, "I wanted... to ensure that society could see what was happening. I never have regretted this decision."

Gisèle hopes that the public's involvement in her case will help other women who have suffered sexual abuse.

"I think of the unrecognised victims whose stories often remain in the shadows. I want you to know that we share the same fight," Gisèle said after the sentencing.

"It's not courage. It's determination to change things," she said. "This is not just my battle, but that of all rape victims."

If you or anyone you know needs expert help, please contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) — the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

With AAP.

Feature Image: Getty; x/@AmauryBucco.