On Wednesday, January 21 at 9:25 p.m., French channel W9 will spotlight one of the country’s most unsettling relationship-driven crimes in a new episode of Enquêtes criminelles. The program reopens the Travaglini case, a tragic story where a seemingly ordinary family life unraveled into a deadly love triangle, a mysterious disappearance, and a long-disputed account of what really happened.
Designed like a true-crime documentary rather than a dramatized movie, this episode methodically walks viewers through the investigation surrounding the death of 30-year-old Éloïse Bagnolini, while questioning how passion, betrayal, and manipulation can escalate into irreversible violence.
The Day Everything Changed: A Missing Mother in the Vaucluse
On October 11, 2013, in the small town of Aubignan in southeastern France, the routine of a young family abruptly shattered. That afternoon, Éloïse Bagnolini, a 30-year-old mother, never arrived to pick up her child from school. Concern quickly turned into alarm when her partner reported her missing.
Investigators entered the couple’s home and were immediately struck by what they saw: the house was in disarray, traces of blood were visible, and the bathroom showed signs of serious damage. The scene contradicted any idea that Éloïse had simply decided to walk away from her life. The theory of a voluntary disappearance collapsed almost instantly, and the focus shifted toward a possible crime.
To friends and neighbors, Éloïse and her partner looked like a stable, united couple. Yet as investigators began to dig, a more complicated picture emerged behind the façade. A hidden relationship—at first discreet, then central to the case—would soon become impossible to ignore.
A Career Woman, a Secret Affair, and a Fatal Encounter
At the heart of the investigation is Jessy Travaglini, 28 at the time. She worked in human resources alongside Éloïse’s partner and was married to a well-known local rugby coach. Professionally, her career appeared to be on the rise, and Éloïse’s companion reportedly acted as both mentor and key ally in that progression.
What investigators uncovered, however, was that their connection went far beyond a simple office friendship. Behind the scenes, Jessy and Éloïse’s partner were involved in a romantic affair. That revelation recast the image of the “perfect couple” and introduced the possibility of a combustible love triangle.
One fact in particular caught the attention of law enforcement: on the very day Éloïse disappeared, Jessy had taken time off work. When questioned, she struggled to provide a convincing explanation. Placed in police custody, she ultimately admitted to killing Éloïse Bagnolini—but maintained that she had acted in self-defense during a confrontation that, she claimed, spiraled out of control.
Competing Narratives: Self-Defense or Orchestrated Crime?
Jessy’s account, as presented to investigators, hinges on a turning point in the love triangle. According to her version, Éloïse discovered the affair and arranged to meet Jessy in order to confront her. What began as a charged conversation allegedly flared into a physical altercation, during which, Jessy says, she fatally injured Éloïse by accident while trying to defend herself.
Yet as the inquiry unfolded, this narrative came under increasing scrutiny. Forensic examinations, physical evidence from the crime scene, and Jessy’s shifting statements all raised questions about whether her story was consistent with the reality of the violence inflicted.
The behavior and role of Éloïse’s partner—now a widower—also drew attention. While he portrayed himself as overwhelmed by grief, his involvement in the affair and in the subsequent handling of information about the case led investigators to carefully dissect his testimony. Was he simply a man caught between two women, or did he actively help shape a partial, or even misleading, version of events?
Inside the Investigation: Forensic Clues and Contradictions
The Enquêtes criminelles special does more than recount the basic timeline of the crime. It dives into the meticulous, sometimes painstaking police work that underpins the French justice system in homicide cases. Viewers are taken step by step through the elements that disturbed investigators:
- Repeated inconsistencies in the statements given by the key figures in the case
- Medical and forensic reports that shed light on how Éloïse actually died
- Material clues inside the home that clashed with the narrative of a spontaneous, defensive struggle
- The ambiguous attitude of Éloïse’s partner, particularly in how he managed information about the disappearance
As the case moved from the initial investigation to the courtroom, the central question remained: was this a chaotic clash between two women driven by jealousy, or the outcome of a more calculated dynamic involving all three people in the triangle?
From Private Drama to High-Profile Trial
What began as a deeply personal crisis within a couple and their close circle evolved into a major criminal case debated before a French cour d’assises, the court that handles the most serious offenses. Each party arrived at trial with a carefully constructed version of the past, hoping to minimize responsibility or justify behavior.
Enquêtes criminelles reconstructs this journey from intimate tragedy to a public trial, highlighting how each new element—expert reports, witness accounts, timelines, cellphone records—either supported or undermined the stories told by the accused and those around her.
The episode also explores a broader theme that resonates well beyond France: how jealousy, romantic entanglements, and emotional dependency can fuel a spiral where lies multiply, reality blurs, and a single day can permanently shatter multiple lives.
Why This Case Still Grips True-Crime Audiences
For fans of true crime in the United States, the Travaglini case will feel familiar in structure to high-profile American stories where hidden affairs collide with domestic life—cases often covered on networks like Investigation Discovery or in longform podcasts. What sets this French case apart is the combination of:
- A closed community where everyone knows each other
- The intersection of professional ambition and romantic betrayal
- A suspect who confesses to the killing yet insists on self-defense
- A justice system that must weigh contradictory narratives against hard forensic data
By framing these elements through interviews, legal documents, and expert analysis, the W9 special offers an in-depth look at how French investigators approach complex domestic homicides—and why love triangles so often end up at the center of the country’s most disturbing true-crime cases.
How to Watch the Travaglini Episode of Enquêtes criminelles
The Travaglini case episode airs on W9 on Wednesday, January 21 at 9:25 p.m. local time. The show is hosted by journalist Nathalie Renoux and crime specialist Michel Mary, who guide viewers through the investigation, the prosecution’s theory, and the defense strategy.
Although W9 is a French channel, English-speaking true-crime fans following international cases can look for recaps, translated summaries, or future streaming options that may emerge if the episode is later included in documentary packages or international catalogs.
Key Themes Explored in the Episode
Over the course of the program, the episode focuses on several core questions that go beyond the facts of the single case:
- How do investigators distinguish between a spontaneous, violent outburst and a premeditated act?
- When multiple people lie or hide information, how does the justice system reconstruct the truth?
- What weight should be given to claims of self-defense in the context of an ongoing affair?
- How do grief, guilt, and self-preservation shape the stories people tell after a crime?
By the end, viewers are invited not only to understand what happened to Éloïse Bagnolini, but also to reflect on the psychological and emotional dynamics that can drive people to the edge.
FAQ
What is the Travaglini case about?
The Travaglini case centers on the killing of 30-year-old Éloïse Bagnolini in Aubignan, France. The crime is tied to a love triangle involving her partner and his coworker, Jessy Travaglini, who admitted to killing Éloïse while claiming she acted in self-defense during a confrontation over their affair.
When does the Travaglini episode of Enquêtes criminelles air on W9?
The episode dedicated to the Travaglini case is scheduled to air on W9 on Wednesday, January 21 at 9:25 p.m. (local French time).
Who hosts Enquêtes criminelles?
Enquêtes criminelles is hosted by journalist Nathalie Renoux and crime expert Michel Mary, who provide context, explanations, and guidance throughout the reenactments and investigative segments.
Is this a fictional dramatization or a real investigation?
The program is based on a real criminal case and uses actual investigative records, court documents, and testimonies. While some scenes may be visually reconstructed for clarity, the storytelling relies on documented facts and legal proceedings rather than pure fiction.
