Albert Joseph Pierre Bruneau was born on February 23, 1861, in Assé-le-Bérenger, a small village in northwestern France. Raised in a devout Catholic family, he pursued religious education early and was ordained as a Catholic priest. By all outward appearances, he lived a quiet, disciplined life devoted to his faith and parishioners.

However, beneath the surface, Bruneau was hiding a double life. While continuing to fulfill his priestly duties, he was also secretly involved in a romantic and sexual relationship with a woman named Rose, which was strictly forbidden by his religious vows. His deep fear of public exposure and religious disgrace would eventually lead to a deadly decision.

In November 1893, Bruneau's secret life came crashing down when Rose, his mistress, began pressuring him to make their relationship public. She threatened to reveal the affair, which would not only destroy his reputation but likely have him defrocked and prosecuted by the Church.

Panicked and desperate to protect himself, Bruneau lured her to a secluded location under false pretenses. There, he strangled her with a cord, later attempting to make it look like a suicide. Her body was discovered shortly after, and initial suspicion didn’t fall on Bruneau due to his position as a respected clergyman.

However, inconsistencies in his story and mounting circumstantial evidence led to his arrest. During the investigation, it came to light that he had been living a secret life, and witnesses testified to his affair and suspicious behavior around the time of the murder.

Bruneau was found guilty in early 1894 and sentenced to death. On August 30, 1894, he was executed by guillotine in Laval, France. His execution drew national attention, as it was rare for a priest to be condemned and publicly executed.