The remains of a man who disappeared in 2009 were found at his home in Moselle.
The new owners of the house, acquired in 2023, discovered it during renovation work.
An investigation into the causes of death has been opened.
It had been fifteen years since he had disappeared. The remains of a man were found at his home in Erstroff, in Moselle, by the new owners of the house, Sarreguemines public prosecutor Olivier Glady told AFP on Monday.
“It is a remains reduced to the state of a skeleton which was discovered on Saturday afternoon. It was in an outbuilding which is adjoining the main house, in an inaccessible place, under the roof of this outbuilding, of which the “access was almost hidden”, explained the latter, confirming information from Républicain Lorrain. According to the newspaper, the disappearance of this man in 2009 at the age of 81 remained unexplained and numerous searches had been organized to try to find him.
His wife died in 2020 and the house was subsequently sold. The discovery was made by people who bought this house in 2023 and have been renovating it since. “It was while looking for the causes of rainwater infiltration into the roof that one of the owners somewhat inadvertently accessed this cubbyhole, in which he discovered the skeletal remains,” said the prosecutor.
The skeleton was sent to the Strasbourg Forensic Institute to be identified but “it is quite likely” whether it is the previous owner of the house. The Forbach investigation brigade is responsible for the investigation into the search for the causes of death. “The scene of discovery of the body is suggestive of suicide”said the prosecutor, who specified that a rope had been found still hanging in the attic.
