French authorities have initiated a murder inquiry after the grisly discovery of five bodies in a flat located northeast of Paris. The victims have been identified as a woman and her four children, whose ages range from nine months to 10 years old, according to statements from prosecutors.
The tragic incident unfolded late on Monday evening in the town of Meaux, situated approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the French capital. Concerns were raised by relatives after attempts to contact the family went unanswered.
In response to the alarming situation, law enforcement began searching for the 33-year-old father, who was reportedly missing from the scene. Subsequently, French media outlets reported the arrest of a man in connection with the case on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Jean-Baptiste Bladier confirmed that the Versailles judicial police service has assumed responsibility for the ongoing investigation. Preliminary findings indicate that there were no signs of forced entry into the flat, and the absence of the children’s father raised suspicions.
This tragic event adds to a series of infanticides that have recently occurred in the Paris region:
- In late November, a 41-year-old man confessed to the killing of his three daughters, aged four, 10, and 11, and subsequently turned himself into authorities. The lifeless bodies of the children were discovered in their home in Alfortville, located in the southeastern suburbs of the capital.
- In October, a policeman tragically ended the lives of his three daughters before taking his own life at his residence in Vemars, Val-d’Oise.
As investigators delve into this heartbreaking case, questions surrounding the circumstances leading to this horrific event remain. The French public, as well as authorities, await further details and developments in the ongoing inquiry.
