In the weeks following the Louvre museum heist, investigators focused on uncovering the identities of the thieves and the circumstances that made the French crown jewels vulnerable to theft. Amid this investigation, another figure gained attention: a teenager in a fedora who was photographed outside the museum on the day of the crime.
This young man, later dubbed the “fedora man,” became a subject of speculation on social media. The identities of the actual thieves were quickly established due to careless handling of their DNA, and the Louvre’s director acknowledged issues with the museum’s CCTV security. Despite these developments, the identity of the fedora man remained unknown until recently.
The individual in question, Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux, a 15-year-old from Rambouillet, southwest of Paris, revealed that he was simply a visitor hoping to see the museum, unaware of the ongoing heist. He explained that when he approached police officers for information about the museum’s closure, an Associated Press photographer captured him in a photo that would later go viral.
Pedro learned about his sudden fame four days later when a friend notified him of the viral post, which had garnered millions of views. He was surprised to find his image featured in prominent publications, including The New York Times, noting the significance this held for him.
In explaining his choice of attire—an old-fashioned waistcoat and fedora—Pedro mentioned his inspiration from historical figures and fictional detectives. He noted that he enjoys dressing in this style and often wears it to school. Throughout the speculation about the photograph, Pedro chose to remain discreet initially, believing that the mystery around the image was worth prolonging.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ylx0g6w76o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss