The mystery surrounding the stylishly dressed teenager who became an internet sensation after being photographed at the scene of the Louvre museum heist has finally been solved. The young man, dubbed "fedora man" by social media users, has been revealed as a 15-year-old detective fiction fan who simply happened to be in the wrong place at the right time.
For three weeks following the shocking theft of French crown jewels from the world-famous Louvre museum, investigators worked tirelessly to identify those responsible for the crime and understand how such valuable artifacts could be stolen so easily. While police quickly moved to arrest and charge four individuals in connection with the heist, and the Louvre director publicly acknowledged that the museum's CCTV security systems were inadequate, one puzzle remained unsolved: the identity of the mysterious well-dressed youth captured in photographs outside the museum.
The teenager in question is Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux, a 15-year-old resident of Rambouillet, a town southwest of Paris. Speaking to the Associated Press, Pedro explained that he had originally planned to visit the Louvre with his family on that fateful Sunday, only to discover upon arrival that the museum was unexpectedly closed. "We didn't know there was a heist," he told reporters, describing how the family was completely unaware of the dramatic crime that had just taken place inside the world-renowned art institution.
As Pedro approached police officers to inquire about the museum's closure, an Associated Press photographer who was documenting the security perimeter around the building captured him in a frame. The image, showing the teenager in his distinctive fedora hat and vintage-style clothing, would soon take on a life of its own across social media platforms. Pedro remained completely unaware of his newfound internet fame until four days later, when a friend sent him a screenshot with the question: "Is that you?"
When Pedro confirmed that he was indeed the person in the viral photograph, his friend delivered the shocking news that the image had already garnered five million views on TikTok. "I was a bit surprised," Pedro admitted to the Associated Press, clearly understating his reaction to the unexpected attention. The teenager's astonishment grew even greater when his mother called to inform him that his photograph had been featured in The New York Times, a publication he regularly reads and respects.
"It made a big impact on him," Pedro reflected on seeing his image in the prestigious newspaper, adding that "it's not every day you're in the New York Times." The sudden viral fame left the teenager amazed at the power of social media and digital communication. "People said, 'You've become a star'. I was astonished that just with one photo you can become viral in a few days," he observed.
Pedro's distinctive fashion sense, which made him stand out so dramatically in the photograph, stems from his admiration for both 20th-century statesmen and fictional detectives, particularly Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. When asked about his choice to wear an old-fashioned waistcoat and fedora to the museum, Pedro explained that he had recently begun adopting this vintage style as part of his regular wardrobe. "I like to be chic," he told the Associated Press, revealing that his sartorial choices extend beyond special occasions. "I go to school like this," he added, indicating that his classic detective-inspired look is a daily choice rather than a costume.
As speculation about the mysterious fedora-wearing figure spread across the internet, theories ranged from suggestions that he might be an actual detective working the case to claims that the image was an artificial intelligence-generated fake. Despite the growing curiosity and increasingly wild theories circulating online, Pedro deliberately chose to remain silent about his identity for several weeks after discovering his viral status.
Pedro's decision to maintain the mystery was quite intentional and showed a sophisticated understanding of public interest and storytelling. "I didn't want to say immediately it was me," he explained to reporters. "With this photo there is a mystery, so you have to make it last." His approach demonstrated a mature grasp of how suspense and unanswered questions can capture and hold public attention, perhaps influenced by his love of detective fiction where timing and revelation are crucial elements of a compelling narrative.
