A 93-year-old disabled woman has been found dead in Toulouse, southern France, with a naked Sudanese migrant allegedly lying on top of her. A 34-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Discovery at the home
Pensioner Marie-Louise was discovered naked on her bathroom floor on Sunday after emergency services entered her home. She had been bedridden for months following a stroke and was unable to move by herself. Neighbours were alerted when they reportedly heard her screams and bangs from the house.
A 34-year-old homeless Sudanese national, described by local reports as an undocumented migrant, was arrested at the scene.
Autopsy findings
The Toulouse prosecutor’s office said an autopsy found Marie-Louise had suffered “injuries suggestive of sexual violence” and “traumatic neck injuries consistent with asphyxiation”.
The incident happened around 5pm when neighbours heard chilling screams. One recalled: “We could hear it so clearly that we thought he was right there; it didn’t occur to us that it could be coming from inside the house. We heard shouts, insults – ‘f*** your mother’ – and then sounds of blows. We never could have imagined…”
Arrest and reaction
Police arrived but the door was reportedly locked from the inside, and spare keys from neighbours did not work. They entered through the back of the property, where they spotted large amounts of blood on the floor and the mattress. Marie-Louise was found naked in the bathroom, with the suspect allegedly also naked and lying on top of her. One officer is reported to have been injured during the arrest.
Prosecutors said the man had a breath alcohol reading of 0.92mg per litre, and toxicology tests are underway. The Toulouse prosecutor’s office said the 34-year-old suspect has no prior criminal record.
One devastated neighbour said: “She was the neighborhood grandmother.” A man added: “It’s awful, she saw me born, we did her shopping for her.” Another added: “When it happens to you, to someone you know… It’s horrific.” Flowers have since been placed outside the victim's home.
