A French woman has been arrested after the discovery of the remains of two newborn babies in a freezer in eastern France, prompting a murder investigation.
The grim discovery was made in the town of Aillevillers-et-Lyaumont, in the Haute-Saône department, after a man found the body of one infant while at the family home. Subsequent police investigation led to the discovery of a second newborn’s remains. The 50-year-old woman, who has nine children from three different fathers, was arrested on Wednesday in Boulogne-Billancourt, a suburb of Paris, and has admitted to freezing the babies shortly after they were born.
According to a statement from Besançon prosecutor Cédric Logelin, the woman confessed to giving birth at home and then immediately placing the newborns in a freezer located in the laundry room. She reportedly concealed her pregnancies from family and friends by wearing loose-fitting clothing. The prosecutor stated that the infants were wrapped in bags before being placed in the freezer.
The case has shocked residents of Aillevillers-et-Lyaumont, a small town of approximately 1,500 inhabitants. Mayor Jean-Claude Tramesel described the community as “stunned” by the news, noting that the woman and her partner had lived in the town for around two decades without attracting undue attention. “They are people who do not draw attention to themselves,” he said, adding that he had no knowledge of the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
The investigation is being led by the Lure Criminal Investigation Brigade and the Besançon Criminal Investigation Section. Authorities believe the infants were placed in the freezer sometime between 2011 and 2018. Police are currently conducting forensic analysis to determine the precise timeline of events and gather further evidence.
This case echoes a similar, highly publicized incident from 2006 involving Véronique Courjault, a French woman who confessed to killing three of her newborn children. Courjault was convicted of murder and infanticide and sentenced to eight years in prison after two of the infants were found frozen in her home. The case, known in France as the “affaire des bébés congelés” (the frozen babies case), sparked national debate about maternal mental health and the societal pressures faced by mothers.
While details surrounding the motivations of the woman in the current case remain unclear, the incident raises concerns about the potential for undetected infanticide and the need for increased support for vulnerable mothers. The prosecutor’s office has not yet released information regarding the woman’s mental state or any potential history of mental health issues.
The arrest comes amid a broader discussion in France regarding instances of infanticide. The country has seen several cases in recent years, prompting calls for greater awareness and preventative measures. Experts emphasize the importance of providing access to prenatal care, mental health services, and support networks for pregnant women and new mothers.
The woman is currently in custody and is expected to face formal charges in the coming days. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are continuing to gather evidence and interview witnesses. The case is likely to attract significant media attention and further fuel the debate surrounding infanticide and maternal support in France.
The discovery of the infants’ remains has prompted a wave of grief and shock throughout the region. Local officials have expressed their condolences to the family and have pledged to provide support to those affected by the tragedy. The investigation is expected to continue for several weeks as authorities work to piece together the events that led to this devastating outcome.
