Tragic Infant Death Rocks French Community
A quiet town in Normandy has been plunged into mourning after the horrific death of a five-week-old baby girl, who was allegedly drowned by her own mother following a heated argument with the infant's father.
The tragic sequence of events began on the evening of Friday, November 14, at the family's home in the historic town of Bayeux. According to French prosecutor Joël Garrigue, the child's parents became embroiled in an explosive argument that continued into the early hours of Saturday.
A Fatal Sequence of Events
After the confrontation, the father reportedly left the flat to calm down, leaving the 31-year-old mother alone with their newborn daughter. It was during this period that the mother is alleged to have drowned the five-week-old baby in a bathtub.
In a chilling turn of events, the woman then fled the home, leaving her deceased child behind. Before her arrest, she sent a message to the baby's father informing him of what she had just done.
Arrest and Aftermath
The father returned to the property to find his partner gone and their child dead. Police located the mother on the streets of Bayeux less than an hour later and promptly arrested her.
Prosecutors state that the woman has confessed to the crime. She is expected to be formally charged with murder and faces a potential life sentence if convicted, given the victim was a minor.
The suspect's identity has not been made public as she is under a protective order due to being under guardianship. The community of approximately 12,000 people has been left reeling from the incident.
Deputy Mayor Arnaud Tanquerel expressed the collective shock, noting, "Everyone is in shock. There are only a few births a month." The mother was scheduled to appear before a judge in Caen on Sunday afternoon.
