Maturette was born in France and was arrested in 1932 when he was seventeen for the murder of a taxi cab driver.[2] He was originally sentenced to death by guillotine, but was later sentenced to life because of his young age.[2]
In early 1933, Maturette was sent to the penal colony in French Guiana where he met Charrière and Joanes Clousiot, with whom he would eventually escape.[3] In the early morning hours of 28 November 1933 the three escaped from the hospital in Cayenne prison and went to a leper colony,[4] buying a boat from the lepers led by Toussaint.[5][6][7]
Eventually, they were all recaptured in Colombia, and were returned to French authorities who sentenced them to two years solitary confinement.[2] Clousiot died shortly after being released from solitary.[2] Charrière survived solitary confinement and successfully escaped from Devil's Island on a bag of coconuts, while Maturette stayed in Royale working in the hospital.[2]
