Monster: BTK

Le Monstre Season 2, Episode 1: "A Cold Dark Night"

Air Date: November 3, 2025
Host: Matt Graves (Tenderfoot TV & iHeartPodcasts)

Overview

The premiere episode of "Le Monstre" Season 2, subtitled "A Cold Dark Night," introduces listeners to the chilling unsolved case of Jacqueline Leclerc—one of several women who vanished in Mons, Belgium, in the mid-1990s. Host Matt Graves begins his investigation by reconstructing the events leading to Jacqueline's disappearance on December 22, 1996, revealing the silent terror and lingering mystery cast over the city by a serial killer popularly known as "Le Monstre" or "The Butcher of Mons." The episode deftly mixes personal recollections from Jacqueline's sister, insights from specialists and local investigators, and atmospheric on-location reporting to set the stage for a season-long deep dive into one of Europe’s most haunting cold cases.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Jacqueline Leclerc’s Last Day

• Family Gathering (01:57–03:15):
  • Georgette Leclerc describes the final afternoon she spends with her sister Jacqueline at their mother's house, recalling the mundane comfort of a pre-Christmas bath and lending Jacqueline a change of clothes.
  • Quote:
    “Actually it was a Sunday and my sister Jacqueline and I went to visit our mom’s place near Mons … I remember it was really cold and dark. Her street wasn’t well lit at all.”
    — Georgette Leclerc (03:15)
• The Drop-Off
  • Georgette insists on waiting until Jacqueline gets into her apartment for safety because of the poorly lit street. Their warm goodbye is the last confirmed sighting of Jacqueline.

2. Immediate Aftermath and Disappearance

• Unreturned Calls and Family Searches (09:01–09:31):
  • When Jacqueline fails to call back as promised the next day, Georgette’s anxiety mounts.
  • Instead of immediately going to police, Georgette takes it upon herself to search locally and contact family.
  • Quote:
    "It was from that moment, from that lack of contact the next day, that the nightmare began for me and for my mother."
    — Georgette Leclerc (09:01)
• Police Involvement
  • After days of fruitless searching, Jacqueline is finally entered into Belgium’s missing persons database. The initial police effort is cursory and unremarkable.

3. Personal History and Context

• Jacqueline's Troubled Background (14:44–17:37):
  • The narrative details Jacqueline's adolescence interrupted by her father’s suicide, subsequent early marriage to Angelo—a domineering and violent husband—and the psychological aftermath leading to psychiatric treatment.
  • Quote:
    “She loved her children very much, but she was overwhelmed by the events that marked her life. The situation quickly spiraled out of control and she and Angelo separated.”
    — Georgette Leclerc (17:13)
• Ongoing Tension with Ex-Husband
  • Angelo remains a person of suspicion in the family’s eyes, though never charged; he refuses to discuss the case.

4. Possible Warning Signs and Crime Scene Clues

• A Sense of Fear (14:27–14:44):
  • Jacqueline is described as "apprehensive" in the period before her disappearance, carrying a “big nail” in her coat pocket for self-defense.
  • Quote:
    “She grabbed [the nail] and said, ‘see, I have something to defend myself if someone comes after me.’”
    — Georgette Leclerc (14:27)
• Bank Card Mystery (18:23–22:53):
  • At 1 a.m. the night Jacqueline vanished, her bank card is twice unsuccessfully used at a local ATM, a dangerous and poorly surveilled spot. Host Matt Graves retraces her possible route, noting how unlikely it seems she’d venture out alone at that hour.
  • The ATM’s security camera was broken—another frustrating dead end for investigators.

5. Unexplained Evidence from the Apartment

• Odd Cigarette Butts (28:35–29:22):
  • During the police search, Georgette notes an unfamiliar brand of cigarettes and many butts—odd as Jacqueline didn’t smoke that type and rarely had guests.
  • New DNA testing could have provided leads, but it was not standard at the time.
  • Quote:
    “If Jacqueline had someone over that evening, they could have been the perpetrator's cigarettes.”
    — Georgette Leclerc (28:35)

6. Connection to Other Disappearances and the Mons Serial Killer

• Pattern Emerges (27:46–33:22):
  • Another woman disappears just months later outside Jacqueline’s favorite restaurant, mere meters from the train station and locations already discussed.
  • The subsequent discovery of dismembered remains in trash bags in and near Mons shocks the public and confirms suspicions of an active serial killer.
  • Quote:
    “There had never been a serial killer like this in Belgium, much less in Mons. And now we had the most grotesque story ever.”
    — Matt Graves (33:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote & Context | |---------------|---------------------| | 03:15 | “It was really cold and dark. Her street wasn’t well lit at all… I would stay in the car until she was safely inside… She waved at me and went inside.” — Georgette Leclerc, describing the final sighting of Jacqueline | | 09:01 | “From that lack of contact the next day, the nightmare began for me and for my mother.” — Georgette Leclerc, on realizing Jacqueline was missing | | 14:27 | “I have something to defend myself if someone comes after me.” — Georgette, quoting Jacqueline’s fear and the nail she carried | | 18:23 | “Georgette and many others, including some in law enforcement, suspected that Angelo could have been behind Jacqueline’s disappearance.” — Matt Graves, exploring suspicion around her ex-husband | | 22:25 | “It’s in a dark area, out of view. There was a surveillance camera… but it was out of order at the time.” — Morgan Van Leerberg, on the failed ATM transactions | | 28:35 | “A dark brand I didn’t recognize, placed near the window where she would smoke when the weather allowed. …I’m certain my sister didn’t smoke that brand.” — Georgette Leclerc, on suspicious cigarettes in the apartment | | 33:22 | “There had never been a serial killer like this in Belgium, much less in Mons. And now we had the most grotesque story ever.” — Matt Graves, on the escalation of events after Jacqueline’s disappearance |

Important Timestamps

• 01:57–03:56 — Georgette Leclerc recounts last day with Jacqueline
• 09:01–09:52 — Family realizes Jacqueline is missing; starts personal search
• 14:17–14:44 — Discovery of Jacqueline’s escalating fear and self-defense habits
• 17:37–18:23 — Host and authors discuss suspicions around ex-husband Angelo
• 22:25–22:53 — On-location investigation at ATM; discussion of broken camera
• 28:35–29:22 — Suspicious evidence (unfamiliar cigarette butts)
• 27:46–33:01 — New disappearance, connection to wider serial killer case
• 33:01–33:22 — Public discovery of dismembered remains

Episode Tone and Style

The episode is somber, immersive, and personal—blending haunting personal memories with detailed investigative process. Matt Graves’ narration is thoughtful, occasionally introspective, and respectful to victims and their families. Interviews and reenactments retain a sense of urgency and frustration over the case's unresolved status. The on-location sound design and atmospheric descriptions evoke the cold, damp, and desolate landscape of 1990s Mons, layering in a sense of foreboding and empathy.

Summary & Closing Thoughts

“A Cold Dark Night” meticulously sets up the case for Season 2’s investigation. Interviewing those closest to Jacqueline Leclerc, visiting the crucial scenes, and sharing details both intimate and procedural, the episode highlights how the disappearance of one woman rippled into the revelation of a serial killer who preyed in secrecy. In the episode’s closing minutes, the focus widens—from Jacqueline’s vanished footsteps to the horror of subsequent victims and the unresolved trauma shadowing Mons and Belgium as a whole. With access to survivor testimony, firsthand investigation, and local expertise, host Matt Graves signals his intent to dig deep—and perhaps, finally, unearth long-buried answers.

For listeners seeking a meticulous true crime inquiry with heart and historical context, “A Cold Dark Night” is a powerful start to "Le Monstre" Season 2—a story both chilling and profoundly human.