A malnourished four-year-old girl was discovered next to her mother's corpse after being trapped with the body for several days in a flat in Montagnac, near Pézenas, in France's Hérault department. The 40-year-old mother, who reportedly suffered from epilepsy, was found deceased at approximately midday on Thursday, June 4.
Child Found Dehydrated and in Shock
The girl was found malnourished, dehydrated, and in shock beside the body. She was taken to hospital and is now reported to be healthy, under the care of a relative and receiving medical attention.
Investigation Focuses on Natural Death
As of June 11, investigators were focusing on the likelihood that the death was natural. Neighbors reported hearing nothing unusual and saw no signs of violence or forced entry. A post-mortem examination will be required, though authorities suspect the mother may have suffocated following an epileptic seizure. The girl was reportedly too young to unlock the door to seek help, with the key remaining in the lock.
Nursery Teacher Raised Alarm
The child's nursery teacher contacted police after noticing her absence from school. The teacher reportedly received no response from the mother or relatives. Additionally, French news platform Actu.fr reported that an alert was raised after the mother failed to reply to family and neighbors since Sunday, May 31.
Philippe Audoui, the first deputy mayor of Montagnac, told Le Parisien: "She wouldn't have lasted another day." The mother lived alone with her daughter and was not known to have a partner, with locals describing the family as "discreet."
Psychological Support Unit Set Up
A psychological support unit was established to assist those who witnessed what 7sur7 referred to as an "indescribable scene of horror." The Pézenas gendarmerie is leading the investigation, in coordination with the public prosecutor's office in Béziers.
One police officer described the scene to Le Parisien: "It was a horrific scene that really upset me. We often see dead bodies, but this... As soon as the door was opened, we realised: there was a foul stench." Speaking about the child, the officer added: "She screamed when she saw all those people around her."
Emergency Response Details
Four officers arrived at the home, situated in a small social housing estate in a town of about 4,880 residents. After ringing the doorbell and knocking, they were greeted with silence. Local gendarmes were notified, and firefighters raised a ladder to the first floor before forcing entry through a window to gain access to the property.
