The mother of the five infants found dead in an apartment in Orange, in the Vaucluse region, was formally charged on Friday with "Murder of five minors under the age of 15"The 32-year-old woman has been placed in pretrial detention. Her partner, also 32, was released after being held in police custody. The judicial investigation concerns events that allegedly occurred between April 2018 and October 2025. Investigators must now determine the exact circumstances of the deaths of each of the five children and establish whether the newborns were alive at the time of their birth.
Four skeletons and a decomposing body were discovered in the apartment.
The case broke on July 27th, after the remains of five infants were discovered in the family home. Police found the bones of four babies and the decomposing body of a fifth. The remains were reportedly placed in several boxes stored inside the apartment. The suspect's partner made the discovery. His partner had just given birth at their home on Sunday, July 26th, to a healthy, live baby boy. The man had gone out with their two other children, aged eight and nine, to allow the mother to rest after experiencing abdominal pain. Upon his return, he allegedly discovered the newborn in the apartment. Disturbed by this new pregnancy, which he claims he was unaware of, the father began searching the apartment. He then discovered the human remains and alerted the hospital in Orange. The judicial authorities were subsequently notified, and a search warrant was executed that evening.
The mother claims that all five children were stillborn.
Hospitalized after giving birth, the mother was arrested on Wednesday, July 29, upon leaving the hospital. Taken into custody in Avignon, she was questioned about the five pregnancies and the conditions under which the bodies were kept at her home. The woman in her thirties reportedly told investigators that the five babies were "stillborn"This version of events must be compared with the results of autopsies, forensic examinations, and analyses performed on the bones. These examinations will notably have to determine whether the children breathed after birth and precisely date each death. Some initial forensic findings suggest that several newborns may have died before breathing. Umbilical cords were reportedly found around their necks. These findings remain preliminary and do not, at this stage, allow for the establishment of the exact cause of the five deaths.
The companion was released without charge at this stage.
The children's father was also taken into custody. He claims to have been completely unaware of his partner's various pregnancies and previous births. His custody was lifted on Thursday evening, July 30, and he was released. No charges have been filed against him at this stage. The man reportedly explained that his partner's appearance did not betray her pregnancies. The birth of the baby boy on Sunday was apparently another surprise to him. The investigation will have to verify his statements and determine whether he could truly have been unaware of the presence of the bodies in the family home.
The three surviving children are under the protection of the justice system.
The couple already had two children, aged eight and nine. They have been placed in the care of relatives, and their situation is to be quickly assessed by Child Protective Services. The infant, born on Sunday, July 26, has been placed in temporary care. A juvenile judge has been assigned to oversee the three children. The criminal investigation is now continuing under the authority of an investigating judge.
