A search operation was launched, including helicopters equipped with thermal vision, drones, and sniffer dogs, but these efforts yielded no results.
The local police issued a missing person alert describing Landrieux as a ‘potentially confused woman’ known for knocking on neighbors’ doors, which only adds to the mystery surrounding her disappearance and eventual finding.
On November 2, 2020, Landrieux left her house and walked across the street just as a Google Maps car was capturing new images on her street, Rue Reppe.
This was Google’s first visit to her road in over a decade, and the ‘Street View’ images show her descending the stairs to a neighbor’s garden.
At the same time, her husband was hanging laundry in the garden, an activity also captured by the Google Maps car in a 360-degree panoramic photo.
For two years, there were no leads as to the whereabouts of the 83-year-old, leading her family to conclude that she might have accidentally fallen into the nearby Meuse River.
A dedicated investigator used Google Maps and Google Street View to retrace her path, ultimately discovering footage of her crossing the road in a white sweater and black pants.
This discovery prompted authorities to resume their search, this time focusing on the garden of the property opposite her home.
After two years, Landrieux was discovered at the base of a hill below her neighbor’s garden. Investigations revealed she had fallen from an open section of the garden and sadly passed away shortly after the fall.
Reddit users expressed disbelief over the fact that it took so long to find Landrieux so close to her house.
“There was a large scale search and she was found in her neighbour’s garden? That is unbelievable,” one wrote.
Another commented: “I can’t believe they only found her because Google maps showed her crossing the street. Were they even trying?”
Others were astonished by the timing of the Google Maps car. One user remarked: “Are we are to assume those photos were taken on the day she went missing? If so, wow! Good job Google!”
Another added: “Not just the day she went missing, but the exact moment. If it had been 10 seconds earlier she would just be in her walkway and it wouldn’t give any clues.”