Deep grief has “covered” France following the brutal murder of 11-year-old Liana. Great emotion prevailed at the funeral of little Liana, where hundreds of people gathered on Friday afternoon (06/12) at the community cemetery in the southwestern part of the country where the child attended school to say their final “goodbye” to the innocent 11-year-old. Many of those present were dressed in white, and the hearse that carried the minor’s body was also white.
Grief in France: Moving moments at the 11-year-old’s funeral
Great emotion and sadness were caused by the scenes that unfolded at the cemetery in the town of Fleurance, when shortly after 2:30 PM local time the white hearse arrived, about 100 km west of Toulouse, followed by hundreds of people who then gathered in front of a photograph of the little girl.
Obsèques de Lyhanna à Fleurance : le corbillard transportant la dépouille de Lyhanna vient d’arriver au cimetière, suivi par sa famille et des centaines de personnes. Dans un silence absolu. pic.twitter.com/Gw50gXDbMV
— ICI Occitanie (@icioccitanie) June 12, 2026
Lyhanna : ses parents, main dans la main, arrivent au cimetière de Fleurance. Des dizaines et dizaines de personnes leur emboîtent le pas pour les soutenir et rendre un dernier hommage à la petite fille @RMCInfo pic.twitter.com/2B7NBSeuR8
— Julie Brault (@JulieBrault3) June 12, 2026
The blue coffin was carried by funeral home staff to the burial site, where only the family was able to pay their respects.
“We’re not saying goodbye to a symbol, a battle, but to an 11.5-year-old child”
During the ceremony, Fleurance mayor Gregory Bombato spoke. “We’re not saying goodbye to a symbol, a battle, but to an 11.5-year-old child: Liana,” the elected official stated.
In front of the school where she was last seen on May 29th while getting into the vehicle of the main suspect, Jerome Barela, dozens of flower bouquets, candles and stuffed animals have been placed, while a poster “paid tribute to Liana and all child victims”. It should be noted that the 11-year-old’s body was found on June 4th in an agricultural silo in the same area.
Les obsèques de Lyhanna se sont déroulées ce vendredi à Fleurance, dans le Gers. Le cortège suivant le corbillard et la famille de la collégienne de 11 ans était composé de plusieurs dizaines de personnes. L’inhumation aura lieu plus tard dans la journée dans la plus stricte… pic.twitter.com/0nMWVppcGQ
— M6 Info (@m6info) June 12, 2026
Following a call from the French mayors’ union, citizens gathered in front of town halls in the broader region. Motorcyclists also departed from Auch forming a convoy toward Fleurance, aiming to pay tribute “to little Liana who left too early”.
Dernier hommage à #lyhanna, dont les obsèques se sont tenues à Fleurance 🕊️
📸 Patricia Huchot-Boissier / Starface pic.twitter.com/EY4ZX11A9E
— Public (@InsidePublic) June 12, 2026
Fleurance a fait ses derniers adieux à Lyhanna. La foule réunie a lâché des ballons en hommage à la fillette partie trop tôt. Deux ballons rouges, probablement ceux des parents, se sont envolés en premier. Puis des dizaines de ballons blancs se sont envolées dans le ciel. Les… pic.twitter.com/3DV2Bwqf8N
— Le Figaro (@Le_Figaro) June 12, 2026
In the investigation into the 11-year-old’s death, the main suspect is Jerome Barela, a 41-year-old father whose eldest daughter was Liana’s friend. After being brought in by police the day after the disappearance, he has been remanded in custody following charges filed against him for kidnapping on June 1st.
Liana’s death has caused shock in France following revelations about Jerome Barela’s profile, who was never summoned or arrested despite complaints against him for sexual assault against minors.
