Four members of the same family, including two boys aged six and nine, were found dead on Wednesday evening in the commune of Gy, in the Haute-Saône department of eastern France. The grim discovery was confirmed to AFP by an official source on Thursday, following an initial report by the regional newspaper L’Est Républicain.
Bodies Discovered Near Caravans
The bodies were located around 8 p.m. on a plot of land housing caravans, according to the source, who requested anonymity. “Four bodies were found, including those of two boys aged six and nine, yesterday evening around 8 p.m.,” the source stated. Local media, including ICI Besançon and BFMTV, reported that the gendarmerie was alerted at approximately the same time.
Suspect Believed to Be the Father
According to L’Est Républicain, the father of the family is suspected of killing his relatives, including his two children, with a firearm before turning the weapon on himself. The fourth victim is believed to be his mother-in-law, though the exact family relationship has yet to be officially confirmed. Authorities have opened an investigation for voluntary homicide.
The official source told AFP that the couple was in the process of divorcing and was building a house at the time of the tragedy. The father was reportedly a member of the Traveller community. One body was found inside a utility vehicle, while the other three were discovered in a mobile home.
Heavy Police Presence and Local Response
A significant gendarmerie deployment was established at the scene. The mayor of the commune, which has around 1,000 residents, visited the site and convened an extraordinary municipal council meeting. As of Thursday morning, the Vesoul public prosecutor’s office had not responded to AFP’s requests for comment.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the small community, with investigators working to piece together the exact sequence of events that led to this devastating loss of life.
