FRENCH POLICE investigating the mysterious disappearance of a family of six yesterday have found five bodies buried in the garden of a house in the western city of Nantes.
Xavier Ronsin, the public prosecutor in the city, said police were working on the hypothesis of “kidnapping and murder” after a severed leg was found under the terrace at the family home yesterday morning.
Five bodies – believed to be those of the mother and four children – were discovered last night. Mr Ronsin said the victims had “probably” been shot.
The 50-year-old online business manager, his 49-year-old school assistant wife and their children – sons aged 21, 18 and 13 and a daughter aged 16 – went missing earlier this month.
The case had been treated as a missing persons investigation until yesterday’s discoveries, when it became one of “kidnap and murder”, Mr Ronsin said.
He added that the family home showed no sign of violence and the parents’ bank accounts indicated no recent activity.
Mr Ronsin said the children’s school had suddenly been informed the family was moving to Australia and the father left “rambling and contradictory” letters behind.
“A large number of family relatives received a letter in which the father, on behalf of the family, explained that he was a kind of secret agent working for the United States and he had to return as part of a witness protection programme in the US to take part in an important case related to drugs,” the prosecutor said.
Police official Laurent Chavanne said the severed leg was found beneath the terrace of the family home. The inside of the house was clean and showed “no trace of a fight”. A few stains were being analysed to determine if they were blood, he said.
Local media reported that wardrobes in the house were empty and that no telephone or internet use had been detected at the home since April 3rd.
According to Europe 1 radio, the father phoned his wife’s employer to say she was ill and should not be contacted.
A week later, the employer received a resignation letter in which the mother explained that the family was moving to Australia due to her husband’s work.
The school where two of the children were enrolled received a letter saying they had moved, and a cheque to clear outstanding fees, 10 days ago. Television pictures yesterday showed the shutters on the family’s two-storey townhouse were closed.
A small piece of cardboard was taped over the family letter box reading: “Please return mail to sender. Thank you.”
Police had sealed off the house and forensic examinations were continuing last night.
A black Volkswagen Golf, which neighbours said belonged to the family, was parked outside. Even the family dogs – a pair of Labradors – had disappeared.