Mutilated Body Found in Haute-Saône Sparks International Investigation
A shocking discovery in Fédry, Haute-Saône, where a body severed in two was found, has led to an international criminal case. A 39-year-old French woman has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Details of the Arrest and Investigation
The suspect was apprehended on Sunday in the Swiss canton of Vaud and is currently in pretrial detention. Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation against her. She lived in Sainte-Croix, near the French border, in the apartment of a 75-year-old man who went missing on October 31.
Two days after the man’s disappearance, a fire broke out in the apartment. Shortly after, border guards detained the woman.
Connection to the Discovered Body
Swiss investigators suspect the missing man and the mutilated body found on the French side of the Saône River are linked. The body was discovered Saturday near Vesoul, in Fédry, wearing only underwear and severed at the waist. It was coated in a white substance, likely quicklime, used to destroy DNA evidence.
"The victim is believed to have died from hemorrhaging resulting from a blow to the chest before being dismembered."
The autopsy revealed multiple deep wounds to the skull, back, and torso, supporting a violent death before dismemberment. Identification tests are ongoing to confirm if the victim is the missing Swiss national.
Cooperation Between Authorities
French and Swiss officials are collaborating closely to piece together the timeline and assign responsibility in this exceptionally gruesome case.
"Swiss investigators suspect a link between this disappearance and the body found on Saturday on the banks of the Saône River."
Author’s summary: The tragic case of a mutilated body found near the French-Swiss border has prompted cross-border cooperation after a French woman’s arrest raises crucial questions.