One of the elderly men convicted in the infamous 2016 armed robbery of reality TV star Kim Kardashian has died just a month after the trial concluded, French media reports confirm.
Didier Dubreucq, 69, nicknamed “Blue Eyes,” succumbed to lung cancer while undergoing chemotherapy, which he began during his pre-trial detention. His death comes shortly after he was found guilty alongside seven others for their role in the multimillion-dollar jewellery heist that shocked the world.
A Case That Gripped Global Headlines
The robbery, which took place in a luxury Paris hotel, saw Kim Kardashian held at gunpoint, tied up, and robbed of nearly $10 million worth of jewellery, including her $4 million engagement ring from then-husband Kanye West.
During the April 2025 trial, Kardashian gave harrowing testimony, recalling the moment she feared she would be murdered.
“I would be shot dead on the bed,” she said, describing the trauma that still lingers nearly a decade later.
Dubreucq Maintained Innocence
Despite his conviction, Dubreucq insisted he was wrongly accused.
“It’s a mistaken identity case… I had nothing to do with this,” he told the court during hearings.
Due to his deteriorating health, Dubreucq did not attend the sentencing in May 2025. He was sentenced to seven years, with five years suspended, and did not return to prison as he had already served two years in pre-trial custody.
Sentences Suspended for Elderly Defendants
Three other men also received lenient sentences, ranging up to eight years, but were not reincarcerated due to the time already served and health concerns. The gang earned the nickname “grandpa robbers” because of their advanced age at the time of the heist.
Presiding Judge David De Pas defended the suspended sentences:
“The state of health of the main protagonists ethically prohibits incarcerating anyone.”
Kim Kardashian Reacts
In a post-trial statement, Kardashian described the robbery as:
“The most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family.”
The ordeal not only changed Kardashian’s relationship with fame and security but also cast a long shadow over celebrity culture and its vulnerabilities.
Final Chapter for “Blue Eyes”
With Dubreucq’s passing, one chapter closes in a crime saga that stunned the world. While justice was technically served, the case remains a sobering reminder of how even the most protected public figures are not immune to danger—and how trauma can outlive the trial.
