Tragedy in Mayenne: a mother of three found dead, her former partner arrested in Paris

A criminal investigation has been opened in Laval following the discovery of the body of a 39-year-old woman in her apartment on Thursday morning. Initial findings quickly led investigators to her former partner, from whom she had been separated for several months. The public prosecutor's office has opened a formal investigation for the murder of a spouse in order to determine the precise circumstances of her death.

According to the public prosecutor in Laval, the 32-year-old suspect left the Mayenne region shortly after the alleged incident to travel to the Paris area. He was finally apprehended in the early afternoon upon his arrival at Montparnasse train station after contacting the police himself to turn himself in. He is now in police custody and will be questioned by investigators.

The circumstances of the death are at the heart of the investigation.

Judicial authorities have ordered several forensic examinations to determine the exact cause of the victim's death and to reconstruct the sequence of events. At this stage, the prosecutor's office is remaining cautious and has not released any further details about the injuries sustained or the precise circumstances of the tragedy.

The investigation must also establish the suspect's communications and movements before his arrest. Investigators are continuing to interview relatives and analyze evidence gathered at the scene to clarify the facts.

A family with no known history of violence

The couple had three children aged 11, 9, and 5. According to the prosecutor's office, no domestic or intra-family violence cases had previously been filed against this family. However, the suspect had prior convictions for offenses unrelated to domestic violence.

This latest tragedy comes amid a strong mobilization against violence against women. According to the latest official statistics, 107 women were killed by their partner or ex-partner in France in 2024, an 11% increase compared to the previous year. This rise continues to worry advocacy groups and public authorities.