The Journal L'Alsace newspaper reported the unidentified man who often worked as a female impersonator was arrested Tuesday on suspicion he was involved in the slayings between 1980 and 2002.

The killings happened across the border from Mulhouse in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, Alsace and near Paris, the BBC said.

Investigators said they suspect the man had an accomplice, whom they said is in prison serving an unrelated 20-year sentence for murder, the report said.

Both men have denied the charges, French media said.