The Fate of Ponette and Her Family

After the tragic attack, villagers stormed Ponette’s home, dragged her out, and tore her to pieces. Shortly thereafter, her brother Pierre was arrested on charges of witchcraft. Witnesses claimed he had been seen running wild in the fields disguised as a wolf. Others testified they had seen him use an ointment to transform himself into a werewolf. On occasion, Pierre allegedly took the form of a rabbit, though he most frequently transformed into a wolf. Pierre did not deny the accusations and confessed to his crimes, admitting that he had indeed transformed into a werewolf and attacked both livestock and travelers. His son, George, also confessed to applying the same ointment, roaming the fields disguised as a wolf. According to his testimony, George attacked and devoured two sheep alive.

Pierre’s sister, Antoinette, admitted she had sold her soul to the Devil and recounted her conversations with the Devil, who appeared to her as a black goat.

While imprisoned, Pierre and George behaved like madmen, crawling on all fours and howling uncontrollably. Their bodies bore scars on their faces, arms, and legs—injuries allegedly sustained during fights with hunting dogs. Eventually, Pierre, George, and Antoinette were executed; some were burned at the stake, while others were buried alive.

The Tailor of Chalons

On December 4 of that same year, a tailor in Chalons was sentenced to death by immolation. According to parliamentary orders, he was to be burned alive at the stake. The tailor confessed to luring children into his shop, where he killed them. Sometimes, he hunted lost children in the woods, snapping their necks with his teeth and feasting on their flesh. He admitted to losing count of his victims. During the investigation, authorities uncovered a pile of children's bones in his backyard. The horrifying details of his confession were deemed so grotesque that the presiding judge ordered all trial records destroyed after the proceedings.

The Werewolves of Angers

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In 1598, another chilling case emerged in Angers, in a remote area known as Queude. Farmers stumbled upon the mutilated remains of a 15-year-old boy, his body gruesomely dismembered and surrounded by pools of blood. Nearby, two gray wolves were seen tearing into the corpse. Upon spotting the farmers, the wolves fled into the woods. The men pursued them but eventually lost their trail. Just as they were about to abandon the search, they discovered two half-naked men hiding in the brush, trembling with fear. The men’s nails were sharp and long, their hands covered in blood and flesh.

The Curious Case of Rollot

One of the most bizarre cases involved a beggar named Rollot, who confessed to smothering a young boy to death, nearly devouring the corpse before being interrupted. Rollot, along with his brother John and cousin Julian, had lived in a derelict house in a nearby village. Witnesses reported not having seen him for eight days prior to his capture. Under interrogation, Rollot admitted to using an ointment given to him by his parents to transform into a werewolf. When questioned about a recent case involving two wolves attacking a child, he revealed that the wolves were none other than his brother and cousin.

In prison, Rollot displayed erratic behavior. Initially, his stomach appeared unnaturally flat and firm, but after days of confinement, he began drinking large quantities of water—up to an entire bucket each night—while refusing food during the day.

Though neighbors described Rollot’s parents as devout and respectable, Rollot's mental state cast doubt on his claims. When asked about his crimes, he answered:

* "What is your name and occupation?"

"My name is Rollot, I am 35 years old, and I am a beggar."

* "What crimes have you committed?"

"They accuse me of being a thief and offending God. My parents gave me an ointment, but I do not know its composition."

* "Does this ointment allow you to become a werewolf?"

"No. But regardless, I did kill and eat a child named Corniel, which is why they call me a werewolf."

* "Do you mean you were wearing wolf skin when you committed the murder?"

"No, I wore my usual clothes, but my hands and face were covered in the child’s blood as I devoured the flesh."

* "Did your hands and feet transform into wolf paws?"

"Yes."

* "Did your head transform into that of a wolf, with a wolf's mouth?"

"I don’t know if my head changed. I felt no difference. But I have attacked many children."

Rollot was sentenced to death, though he later appealed to the Parisian Parliament. The high court declared him insane and sentenced him to two years in a mental institution instead.