A 35-year-old father has been placed under formal investigation following an apartment fire in Carpentras, in the Vaucluse region of southern France, that killed his partner and one of their two children, the Avignon prosecutor’s office said.
The fire broke out on Tuesday, 13 October, in the family’s home. The mother and her two children, aged 5 and 10, were inside the apartment when the blaze started. All three were taken to hospital with their lives in danger.
Two Deaths Confirmed
The prosecutor’s office said the mother and her daughter, both in a state of brain death on Wednesday, died on Thursday. Their deaths were linked to smoke inhalation. The condition of the boy remains “a cause for concern” but “his life is no longer in danger,” the prosecutor added.
An judicial investigation has been opened for “murder,” “attempted murder of minors under 15,” “murder of a spouse” and “deliberate destruction by fire.”
Suspect Denies Allegations
The man was found outside the property, slightly affected by the smoke. “At the end of his custody period, the suspect — who denies the allegations — was brought before an investigating judge, who decided to place him under formal investigation,” the Avignon prosecutor’s office said.
The inquiry continues under the direction of an investigating judge. “The results of forensic police analyses will be decisive for the rest of the proceedings,” the prosecutor said.
- The fire occurred on Tuesday, 13 October, in Carpentras, Vaucluse.
- The mother and her 10-year-old daughter died from smoke inhalation.
- The 5-year-old son is hospitalized but no longer in life-threatening danger.
- The father, aged 35, denies the allegations and has been placed under formal investigation.
