After his conviction, the man confessed to the crime (symbolic image).Image: keystone
July 20, 2026, 11:33July 20, 2026, 11:33
The case of a missing nurse concerned France like no other: after the discovery of skeletal parts and a confession from her already imprisoned husband, there is now sad certainty.
The bones unearthed by the police in the southern French town of Mailhoc following information from the 39-year-old were those of the woman who disappeared without a trace at the end of 2020, the broadcaster TF1 reported with reference to the public prosecutor’s office.
In a trial without a body, witnesses or confession, a court sentenced the man to 30 years in prison last October for the murder of his wife. He had always protested his innocence and appealed. In a letter sent to his lawyers from prison, he surprisingly admitted a few days ago that he was responsible for his wife’s disappearance.
The lawyers said he wanted to ease his conscience, and some commentators spoke of tactics before the appeal process that starts in September. During police interrogation, the man confessed to killing his wife in an argument.
Man is targeted because of inconsistencies
The then 33-year-old nurse disappeared without a trace on a December night in 2020. Shortly after 4 a.m. the man reported his wife missing. The two, who have two small children, were in the divorce phase at the time. The investigators soon went to great lengths to find the woman – without success. Because of inconsistencies, the husband was targeted by investigators six months after the disappearance.
Two neighbors said they heard a woman’s screams during the night. In addition, acquaintances told of threats that the husband was said to have made against his wife. In addition, a former fellow prisoner and a girlfriend of the man said that he had talked about killing his wife. (nil/sda/dpa)