A five-year-old girl was found dead at her father’s home in Blois, in the Loir-et-Cher department of central France, and prosecutors say the man “very likely” killed her before attempting to take his own life.
The Blois public prosecutor’s office confirmed the case on Tuesday, September 22, stating that the child’s body was discovered at the residence of her father, a man born in 1984.
Father in Critical Condition After Self-Inflicted Stab Wounds
The suspect was found “in a critical medical state,” according to the prosecutor’s office. He had “attempted to end his life by inflicting several knife wounds on himself,” said Stéphane Javet, the public prosecutor of Blois.
Despite the severity of his injuries, authorities stated that his life was not considered to be in danger. He was taken into medical care following the discovery.
Context of a Difficult Separation and Prior Complaints
The child’s death occurred against the backdrop of a difficult separation between her parents, according to a police source. The same source said the mother was herself the subject of complaints alleging violence against the girl.
At the time of the incident, the child was staying with her father and had not been dropped off at school. When the school contacted the mother, she attempted to reach her former partner without success before alerting law enforcement, who then went to his home.
An investigation has been opened into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. Authorities have not released further details about the case, and the inquiry is ongoing.
