French authorities have arrested a woman in her 50s following the chilling discovery of two deceased newborn infants concealed inside a freezer. The bodies were uncovered at a property in Aillevillers-et-Lyaumont, Haute-Saône, a small town in eastern France with fewer than 1,500 residents.
The grim discovery was made by a family member who, while tidying the freezer, found one newborn baby wrapped in a bag. Police were promptly called, and a subsequent investigation led to the discovery of a second infant’s body in another bag within the same freezer.
The woman was apprehended in Boulogne-Billancourt, located roughly 300 kilometers away in Hauts-de-Seine. During questioning, she admitted to having hidden her pregnancies from those around her and giving birth at home between 2011 and 2018. According to Besançon prosecutor Cédric Logelin, the woman explained that she concealed her pregnancies by wearing loose clothing and inventing excuses for any weight gain. She then wrapped each newborn immediately after birth and placed them in the freezer, which she exclusively used.
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Authorities revealed that the woman had never disclosed the births to anyone, including her partner, who was reportedly shocked upon learning the details. She is believed to have left the family property in December prior to the discovery.
Local officials expressed their shock and sorrow at the revelation. Mayor Jean-Claude Tramesel stated he was informed of the incident on Tuesday evening and has limited information on the ongoing investigation.
The police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the infants’ deaths. Autopsies are scheduled to be conducted to determine the exact causes. This tragic case has brought a wave of disbelief and sadness to the quiet community of Aillevillers-et-Lyaumont.