A convicted murderer from France has spoken publicly about the dark fixation that led to his crimes. Nico Claux, often referred to by the media as the “Vampire of Paris,” discussed how his disturbing interests developed long before his arrest.

Claux said his fixation began in childhood after the sudden death of his grandfather. By his early teens, he became drawn to macabre stories involving violent crimes. He later admitted that these stories fueled unhealthy fantasies and influenced his behavior as he grew older.

As a young adult, Claux sought work in a Paris morgue. At the time, he said there was little formal training, and employees were often assigned duties without specialized oversight. Claux claimed this environment allowed his obsession to deepen, and he admitted he used his position to act on his impulses.

He later appeared on a podcast where he described his motivations as psychological rather than practical, saying his actions were driven by a desire for an emotional “rush.”

Claux went on to murder Thierry Bissonnier, a man he met online. Prosecutors said he intended to commit further acts after the killing but was interrupted before he could do so. He was arrested soon after when he attempted to use one of the victim’s bank checks.

Claux was sentenced to 12 years in prison and served more than seven before being released.

Claux has often been asked about his mindset during the crimes. He says people focus on the wrong things, insisting his motives were rooted in psychological compulsion rather than any specific “taste.”
He admitted that his behavior escalated because he allowed his fantasies to replace reality and judgment.

Authorities and mental-health experts have since pointed to his case as an extreme example of unchecked obsession turning into violence.