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Marie-Charlotte Renault. (Archives) Last update - 13:25 11/09/2008 Rose's mother was under lover's 'guru-like influence,' says best friend By Christophe Dansette Tags: Israel, France, Rose Pizem PARIS - Marie-Charlotte Renault, the woman at the center of an international media circus following the disappearance of her 4-year-old daughter Rose, has been best friends with Roxane for 20 years. The two girls met as infants, and were inseparable ever since. They were part of each other's families. Roxane knew Marie-Charlotte's mother Isabelle and her three brothers - two older, and one younger. Roxane recalls the family was happy. But Marie-Charlotte felt the absence of her father, who never visited. She did not often discuss the matter with Roxane. The girls made foolish experiments together. Roxane remembers how when they were 7 or 8, they stole a cigarette from Marie-Charlotte's mother and smoked it. How much they laughed that day. After they were sent to the same boarding school at age 11, they spent their nights talking in Marie-Charlotte's bed about love and life, like other children their age. Advertisement Roxane describes Marie-Charlotte as being "a little shy but very funny, very nice, always ready to help, with lots of qualities." When it came to their love lives, Marie-Charlotte and her best friend were very different. Marie-Charlotte met Benjamin Pizem when she was 14, at which point the two girls were speaking less often. Marie-Charlotte was living in Rouen, in northern France. Every time she and Benjamin came to visit Isabelle, they would invite Roxane over, too. At this time in her life, Marie-Charlotte was radiant with joy, Roxane says. She had dropped out of school, and was working and earning a living. She managed her relationship, and then her role as a mother, perfectly. Marie-Charlotte married Benjamin when she was 18, and they soon had a child, Rose. Rose was everything to Marie-Charlotte, Roxane recalls. Rose was a beautiful baby, with dark hair and light eyes, and Marie-Charlotte loved her and cared for her. The child seemed well adjusted. But everything changed when Benjamin and Marie-Charlotte went to Israel to meet Ronny, Benjamin's father, and Marie-Charlotte decided not to come back, says Roxane. "It was like she was not the same person anymore," says Roxane. "She began to say incoherent things, like Israel is my country, although she was not even Jewish." Marie-Charlotte began having an affair with Ronny, Rose's grandfather, who is now suspected of killing the child. Roxane tried to convince Marie-Charlotte she was making a mistake, that she should come back before it was too late. But she didn't listen. She spoke about converting to Judaism and becoming religious. "It was as if she was under the influence of a guru," Roxane said. At that time, Marie-Charlotte cut all links with her husband, Benjamin, and her mother, Isabelle. Roxane was the only person in France with whom Marie-Charlotte maintained contact. Without telling her friend, Roxane became Marie-Charlotte's link to her family in France. She repeated to Benjamin and Isabelle everything Marie-Charlotte told her - until the day Benjamin wrote an e-mail to his wife, telling her he knew everything about her life with Ronny through Roxane. Marie-Charlotte cut off contact with Roxane for a year. At that point, Roxane decided to stop speaking to Benjamin. She hasn't heard from him since. One day, Marie-Charlotte wrote to Roxane. Rose was 2 years old and living in France with her father. Marie-Charlotte seemed happy at that time. She had abandoned her plans of converting, and had had another child. Roxane thought the old Marie-Charlotte was back - the one she loved, the one with whom she had spent so many hours talking and laughing. "It was as if we had never been separated," Roxane said. Everything was fine until the day Marie-Charlotte told her that Benjamin was mistreating Rose, and that she had been hospitalized. Roxane couldn't believe Benjamin could do such a thing, "but apparently his new girlfriend was hitting Rose." Finally, a French judge ruled Rose would live with her mother in Israel. When Marie-Charlotte and Roxane spoke in May, Marie-Charlotte said that Rose was disturbed, and that it was very hard for her. "She told me that they were like two strangers who couldn't love each other," says Roxane. Marie-Charlotte didn't want the child she no longer loved. She told Roxane that her mother-in-law, Benjamin's mother Betty, was ready to adopt her, a version that Betty confirmed. In July, the two friends spoke again. Marie-Charlotte said she was fine. But when Roxane asked her about Rose, she didn't answer, and said she had to go. That was the last time the two friends spoke. Roxane can't believe she might have played a role in Rose's disappearance. She wants to speak to Marie-Charlotte. "I so much want her to tell me what happened," she says. "I want to hear it from her mouth." Related articles: The Search for Rose / Leading psychologist: Suspected murderer is antisocial, but not insane > The Search for Rose / A family with a history of abuse The Rose Pizem case / It can happen anywhere Bookmark to del.icio.us   Beatle in Bethlehem Paul McCartney says West Bank visit shows he is carrying message of peace. Biden on the attack Democratic VP candidate says McCain presidency would benefit Iran, Hezbollah.   1.   You don`t have to be Jewish! 17:17  |  Motic 29/08/08   2.   The French 20:02  |  XY 29/08/08   3.   Roxana who? 02:06  |  HS 30/08/08   4.   The European way, abandon children 03:41  |  Seth J. Frantzman 30/08/08   5.   the european way: pffffffff 13:08  |  frenchie 01/09/08   6.   This is what happens 05:01  |  Michael 07/09/08   7.   nr. 4 14:28  |  Doreen 11/09/08   8.   Posts 1 and 4 - inane generalizations 14:50  |  ChanahS 11/09/08   9.   This is a Horrific Crime 18:58  |  Miri 11/09/08   10.   Chana S 20:02  |  Pamela 11/09/08   11.   #2 23:54  |  A mom 11/09/08   12.   #4 23:55  |  A mom 11/09/08   13.   why 15:01  |  Yored 12/09/08

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