Forgotten in the Depths: A 32-Year-Old Mystery Resurfaces in Brittany

Discovery of a Sunken Renault 18 Revives the Disappearance of Alain Rollier, Missing Since 1993

In October 2025, a remarkable discovery in a pond in Pleurtuit, near Dinard in Brittany, France, revived a three-decade-old mystery. While maintenance work caused the water level of the Dick pond to be lowered, a white Renault 18 slowly began to emerge from the mud, catching the attention of a passerby. Authorities were alerted, and a recovery operation soon unveiled a story buried since 1993.

Rediscovery of the Vehicle

On October 11, 2025, the gendarmerie of Saint-Malo were informed that a car roof had become visible in the drained pond. Divers from the local water unit extracted the vehicle a few days later. The car was identified as a Renault 18 belonging to Alain Rollier, a 43-year-old man who had disappeared in June 1993. Inside, investigators made a chilling discovery: human remains, now undergoing forensic identification.

A Disappearance That Haunted a Family

The disappearance of Alain Rollier deeply affected his family at the time. His daughter, Corinne, now 53, spoke of her shock and disbelief upon hearing the news, saying she “didn’t know how to react after so many years.” The last time she saw her father was just days before he vanished without a trace. For her, this discovery may finally bring a measure of closure after decades of uncertainty.

The Investigation Reopens

According to Saint-Malo’s public prosecutor, Fabrice Tremel, the current investigation focuses on identifying the remains and determining whether a third party was involved in Rollier’s death. At this stage, investigators have not ruled out any possibilities, whether it was an accidental plunge or a criminal act. The mystery of how the car ended up submerged remains unsolved—did it slide in unnoticed one night, or was it driven into the water deliberately?

A Chance Discovery

Ironically, the discovery was only possible due to coincidence. The pond had been partially drained for seasonal maintenance since August, exposing mudflats and debris. It was then that the walker noticed the faint outline of a car roof breaking through the surface. Without this fortunate timing, the vehicle might have remained hidden for many more years beneath the silt.

This extraordinary case underscores how chance and memory sometimes conspire to bring long-lost truths to light. Thirty-two years after he vanished, Alain Rollier may finally be found—and his family may at last begin to lay the past to rest.