French authorities have detained a woman in her fifties following the horrific discovery of two deceased infants inside a household freezer. According to a source speaking to the AFP news agency, a man raised the alarm on Tuesday after finding the body of a newborn baby in the freezer at his residence located in the eastern town of Aillevillers-et-Lyaumont.
Police Uncover Second Infant During Investigation
Upon arrival at the scene, police officers conducted a thorough search and uncovered the body of a second infant, escalating the severity of the case. Investigators swiftly focused their suspicions on the mother, who had abruptly departed from the home without providing any prior notice or explanation.
Arrest Made in Paris Suburb
The suspect was subsequently apprehended by law enforcement on Wednesday in the western Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt. It is understood that the woman is believed to be the mother of nine children from two separate relationships, adding a complex familial dimension to the ongoing inquiry.
Local Community Stunned by Gruesome Discovery
In Aillevillers-et-Lyaumont, official seals were visibly placed on the shutters of a light-coloured, single-storey home featuring an open gate, marking the property as an active crime scene. Mayor Jean-Claude Tramesel expressed profound shock upon learning of the grim discovery, stating, 'It's a small village of 1,500 inhabitants. When it comes to news stories like this, you always think it happens somewhere else. We're stunned.'
Referring to the couple involved, Mayor Tramesel noted that they 'have lived in the town for about 20 years but do not work here' and described them as 'people who keep to themselves.' This characterization highlights the isolated nature of the household within the tight-knit rural community.
History of Similar Cases in France
This distressing incident represents the latest suspected instance of infanticide to emerge across France in recent years, underscoring a troubling pattern of such crimes. In 2022, two newborn babies were discovered inside a woman's freezer in southern France, with prosecutors later confirming that their deaths were 'not natural in origin.'
Furthermore, in 2015, five bodies were found in a comparable case, resulting in the mother receiving an eight-year prison sentence. Another notorious case that entered French legal annals was that of Veronique Courjault, who was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2009 for killing three of her newborn children.
The current investigation continues as authorities work to determine the precise circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two infants and to establish a clear timeline of events leading to this tragic outcome.
