Four people from the same family were discovered dead in Toulouse in the dead of night between Tuesday and Wednesday, setting off an investigation that spans two separate crime scenes across the city. 20 Minutes reported that the grim discovery near the canal du Midi includes two women, aged 29 and 63, and a 20-month-old child.
Suspect Found Dead in Second Toulouse Scene
Investigators quickly linked the apartment near the canal du Midi to another fatal incident discovered the previous night. Roughly 15 kilometers away in the northern part of Toulouse, authorities found the body of a 31-year-old man who had likely taken his own life by cutting his throat and wrists. According to details shared by the public prosecutor’s office, the name of this man matched the name on the mailbox of the residence where the three family members were found dead.
The prosecutor’s office confirmed that the 31-year-old man was entirely unknown to the justice system prior to these events. Inside his apartment, investigators recovered a written note explaining his actions, alongside various medications.
Unanswered Questions Over Family Ties
While an initial police source suggested on Wednesday morning that the deceased man might be the father of the young toddler, Toulouse public prosecutor David Charmatz urged caution. In a Wednesday afternoon statement, Charmatz noted that ongoing investigations must confirm the exact nature of the familial relationships. The suspect could potentially be the son, brother, or uncle of the victims.
Examinations revealed that the victims in the apartment bore significant injuries consistent with an edged weapon. Firefighters arriving at the scene reported an immense quantity of blood inside the dwelling.
Police Ignored Monday Night Noise Reports
Neighbors had alerted authorities to late-night noise coming from the residence on Monday evening. Concurrently, police received a call on Monday evening from a woman reporting that she was facing violence from her son.
Law enforcement officers arrived at the location at 9:15 p.m. on Monday to check on the apartment. Finding no audible disturbance and receiving no response to their knocks, the officers departed without entering. By Wednesday, investigators had sealed off the entrance to the apartment as forensic teams continued gathering evidence to piece together the sequence of events.
