Born around 1829 in Bain‑de‑Bretagne, France, Joseph Riaud grew up with a reputation that preceded him, a combative drunkard known for volatile behavior and short temper. In his early adult years, he ran the local butcher’s shop, but the day-to-day grind wore on him. Ditching the business, he drifted into odd jobs, day laborer, slaughterhouse helper, sometimes even violinist at weddings, though he often preferred skipping work altogether. He habitually begged for food and alcohol, and the townspeople generally gave in.

In 1848, Riaud married Marie Noël. The union was far from peaceful; he frequently beat her, leaving visible bruises. Neighbors once witnessed him chasing Marie across a field wielding a stick with a knife fastened to the end. On multiple occasions, she was found with her hands tied behind her back. In 1852, Riaud spent six days in jail for assault, only to continue the abuse the moment he was released. Then, in 1860, Marie mysteriously died. The pallbearers noticed blood trickling from her head as they placed her into the coffin, locals strongly suspected Riaud, but lived in fear and kept silent.

In 1861, Riaud married again, this time to Perrine. Tragically, she died just six weeks later. At her funeral, the local parish priest, Salmon, found Riaud drunk and asleep beside her coffin.

A few years later, Riaud couldn’t find a willing wife in Bain‑de‑Bretagne. So, he journeyed to Guèno, where he met Marie‑Josèphe Chesnais, a mentally ill mother of two. He brought her back to his hometown, married her, and they had two children. But the pattern repeated: Riaud became aggressive and abusive almost immediately.

By late 1874, he had already served a 15-day jail sentence for beating Chesnais. He was released, then arrested again in February 1875 and sentenced to three months for assaulting another local. Released on June 14, his cruelty worsened. Neighbors reported constant beatings with a stick, and one even overheard him ordering her to lie down before threatening to slit her throat.

On August 2, 1875, Chesnais was walking home with a man named M. Renaud, whose children she was babysitting. Riaud, seeing them, flew into a jealous rage, accusing her of adultery. He caught up to her, dragged her home, and mercilessly beat her in front of their children. When she finally lost consciousness, he grabbed an axe and struck her head seven times—crushing her skull.

The next morning, he wrapped her body in a burlap sack and dumped it outside of town, then returned to tell the authorities she’d been found dead in a ditch. He claimed she’d suffered an epileptic seizure, but the story didn’t hold water. Authorities arrested him swiftly. During interrogation, Riaud admitted to the killing, unemotionally calling it an accident.

He was arrested August 3, 1875. During the November 1875 trial, witnesses testified about prior threats and abuse. One even recounted how the first wife, Marie, had confided in neighbors during Riaud’s violent episodes. He was found guilty of all charges. His pardon appeal failed, and on January 8, 1876, he was executed by guillotine in Rennes. His final wish was for 60 francs to be given to his youngest son to buy a violin when he grew up.