A tragic outcome has emerged in the case of Axel Pietrain, a 22-year-old welder who had been missing since February 22, 2025. His lifeless body was discovered in the Loire River on March 29, 2025, by paddleboarders near the town of Indre, approximately 10 kilometers from Nantes. The announcement was made by Antoine Leroy, the prosecutor of Nantes, on April 4, 2025.
Axel was last seen at his father's home in Nantes, where he had been visiting. He had planned to spend the weekend with his younger brother but failed to return home. His disappearance raised significant concern among his family, leading his father to report him missing to the Nantes police on February 25, 2025. Since his disappearance, there had been no activity on his phone or bank accounts, further deepening the mystery surrounding his case.
On February 25, three days after Axel went missing, one of his three mobile phones was found abandoned in a public parking lot. This discovery did little to ease the worries of his loved ones, as searches conducted at both his father's and mother's residences yielded no new information. The situation escalated on March 7, when a judicial investigation was opened for abduction and sequestration, suggesting that authorities believed Axel might not have left on his own accord.
In the days leading up to the discovery of his body, the investigation intensified. The prosecutor noted that evidence suggested Axel had not voluntarily chosen to remain missing. "A number of investigations led us to believe that this young man did not return home of his own free will," Leroy stated in a press conference.
On March 29, paddleboarders made the grim discovery of Axel’s body in the river. Initially, the body was unidentifiable due to decomposition, but it was later confirmed through an autopsy and DNA comparison that the remains belonged to Axel Pietrain. A mobile phone belonging to him was found in his clothing, reinforcing the connection to the missing person case.
Following the confirmation of his identity, an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death was opened. The prosecutor indicated that the complete results of the autopsy would be submitted to the investigating judge in the coming days. Authorities are now focused on determining the cause of death while continuing to explore the details of his disappearance.
Axel's family expressed their heartbreak over the news, having held onto hope for his safe return throughout the investigation. His mother had previously shared her anxieties and the efforts made by family and friends to locate him, emphasizing the emotional toll the situation had taken on everyone involved.
The case has drawn attention not only due to its tragic nature but also because of the unanswered questions surrounding Axel's disappearance. With the judicial investigation still ongoing, many are left wondering how a young man with a promising future could vanish without a trace and end up in such a tragic fate.
As the investigation progresses, the community remains vigilant, hoping for clarity and justice in the wake of this heartbreaking incident. The prosecutor has assured the public that all necessary steps will be taken to uncover the truth behind Axel's death.
In the meantime, friends and family continue to mourn the loss of a young man who was described as kind-hearted and hardworking. Axel's story serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of community support in times of crisis.
