In July 2013, 53-year-old Marie-Josée Benitez and her 19-year-old daughter Allison vanished without a trace from their home in Southern France. The last person to see them alive was Francisco Benitez — Marie-Josée’s estranged husband and Allison’s father. He claimed they’d left for a trip to Toulouse. They never came back. 

What followed was a chilling chain of revelations. Francisco was already linked to the disappearance of another woman in 2004. Just weeks after his wife and daughter vanished, he took his own life. Then, investigators discovered traces of Allison’s blood in a freezer at the military barracks where Francisco worked. 

Marie-Josée and Allison were never found. But the evidence pointed to one clear theory – that they had been killed by father and estranged husband Francisco.  

This is the story of Allison and Marie-Josee Benitez. 

Information and support  

• Samaritans UK Contact Us | Samaritans  
• Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) Home - AAFDA 
• Women’s Aid Home - Women's Aid 
• National Domestic Abuse Helpline UK 0808 2000 247 
• Mental health support USA Mental Health America | Homepage | Mental Health America 
• Domestic abuse helpline USA 1.800.799.SAFE Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline  

References  

MISSING: Allison and Marie-Josee Benitez | Crime Junkie Podcast 

Allison and Marie-José Benitez: What Happened to Missing Mom & Daughter? 

A missing beauty queen's father with a dark past 

Disappearance of Allison and Marie-Josee Benitez: Crime Junkie investigates suspicious behavior of Francisco Benitez 

Special Envoy: "The Benitez Affair, the Legionnaire's Enigma" 

The father's freezer at the center of all attention - Disparues de Perpignan 

Disappeared from Perpignan: Benitez took his freezer to the Legion 

France gripped by disappearance of missing beauty queen and her mother following suicide of former legionnaire father | The Independent | The Independent 

Chief Warrant Officer Benitez left a bloody trail - Bluestar Forensic 

Credits  

Hosted and created by Clare Laxton @ladylaxton  

Produced by: Clare Laxton   

Killer in the family podcast (buzzsprout.com) 

Music from Pixabay.  

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