Orange: The discovery of the bodies of five newborns in an apartment plunges an entire city into shock.

Acase of extreme gravity has shaken the town of Orange, in the Vaucluse region. The bodies and bones of five newborns were found in several cardboard boxes at the home of a couple who already had two children. This discovery came just hours after the unexpected birth of a third child, in circumstances that have left investigators with many unanswered questions.

The Carpentras prosecutor’s office has announced the opening of an investigation into the murders of minors under the age of 15. The investigation, now entrusted to the Avignon judicial police, aims to establish the identities of the infants found, the exact circumstances of their deaths, and any potential liability.

A birth that leads to an unimaginable discovery

The case began on Sunday when a 32-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital after suffering severe abdominal pain. According to initial findings by investigators, she was unaware she was pregnant and appears to have experienced another instance of pregnancy denial.

Upon arriving at the hospital, doctors discovered she was about to give birth. She delivered a healthy baby boy. While the new mother remained hospitalized to receive the necessary care, her partner stayed at their family home.

It was at this moment that an unexpected event plunged the day into horror. According to initial findings of the investigation, an argument or disagreement over several boxes stored in the apartment led the father to open one. Inside, he discovered a body in a state of decomposition.

In shock, he immediately contacted the Orange hospital, which promptly alerted the judicial authorities.

Police discover several bodies

Quickly mobilized, investigators from the Avignon judicial police went to the scene to conduct a search of the apartment, located in the historic center of Orange, near the famous ancient theater.

As the investigation progressed, police uncovered a discovery even more tragic than initially reported. According to the Carpentras prosecutor’s office, the remains found were those of five newborn babies. The bodies were stored in separate cardboard boxes inside the apartment.

A forensic pathologist conducts initial on-site investigations to assess the condition of the bodies and gather initial evidence useful to the investigation.

Expert opinions crucial for understanding the facts

The investigation is just beginning. The body, found in a state of decomposition, will undergo an autopsy to determine the cause of death and gather any potential forensic evidence.

Regarding the other human remains, anthropological analyses have been ordered. These will notably help determine their age, establish whether the deaths occurred in different periods, and provide answers about the circumstances in which these infants died.

These expert opinions will be essential to guide the rest of the investigation.

The companion claims to know nothing.

When questioned freely by investigators, the young woman’s partner, also 32 years old, asserted that he had never been aware of any possible pregnancies of his partner.

The couple already have two children, aged 8 and 9, both attending a local school. According to initial reports, the family showed no particular signs that might have raised red flags.

Investigators will now have to verify all the statements and precisely reconstruct the chronology of events in order to understand how such a situation could have remained ignored for several years.

The children were immediately protected.

Given the seriousness of the situation, the prosecutor’s office immediately took protective measures concerning the couple’s children.

Child Protective Services has been contacted to assess their situation. The newborn, placed under a temporary placement order, will be entrusted to the juvenile justice system pending the outcome of the investigation.

As for the mother, still hospitalized after giving birth, she had not yet been interviewed by the police at the time of the latest information released by the prosecutor’s office.

A city shaken by this affair

In the old town of Orange, the news spread quickly, leaving residents deeply shocked.

Neighbors describe a discreet couple who have lived in the building for about two years. Several of them say they have never noticed any disturbing behavior.

One of the neighbors explained that the mother regularly picked up the children from school at lunchtime, while her partner left home every morning to go to work.

“Normal people,” he sums up, still in shock from this discovery.

Another neighbor recounts being woken in the evening by the arrival of law enforcement. He claims to have seen forensic technicians dressed in white suits intervene before seals bearing the inscription “murder of a minor” were affixed to the apartment door.

An investigation intended to answer many questions

The investigation is now continuing under the authority of the Carpentras public prosecutor’s office. Investigators are seeking to establish precisely the sequence of events, the identities of the five infants found, and the exact circumstances of their deaths.

The results of the forensic and anthropological examinations will be crucial in understanding this particularly sensitive case, which is arousing strong emotions far beyond Orange.

At this stage, many questions remain unanswered. Authorities reiterate that the investigation is ongoing and that responsibility can only be determined once the judicial inquiries are complete. In the meantime, this case continues to deeply affect the residents of the town, who are confronted with a discovery that is as tragic as it is incomprehensible.