On October 29, in Ruffey-les-Echirey (Côte d'Or), a 49-year-old woman was found lifeless in her bathtub, seriously injured in the neck and with multiple injuries to her throat.
The Dijon prosecutor's office revealed this Thursday that two 16-year-old teenagers, the victim's stepdaughter and the latter's boyfriend, were placed in police custody in connection with this case. The public prosecutor requests their indictment for “assassination” and “complicity in assassination”.
Macabre discovery and investigation
The victim's body, bathed in blood, was discovered in his home, located about twenty minutes north of Dijon. The daughter-in-law, who lived with her, had notified the emergency services, claiming to have found the body. Quickly, the investigators' suspicions fell on her and her boyfriend, who admitted to his presence on the scene at the time of the tragedy as reported by Sud-Ouest.
The investigation led to the discovery of the murder weapon, a pocket knife, buried in a wood, on the instructions of the young man. The latter, if he does not dispute the facts, explained that he acted “in a daze”, according to the statements of the public prosecutor in Dijon, Olivier Caracotch.
The daughter-in-law, for her part, admitted in police custody to having discussed the criminal plan with her partner and facilitating his escape. The latter had been taken care of at the scene by his own mother, who, initially placed in police custody, was finally released.
Motive of crime and family tensions
The motive for the murder remains unclear, although the investigation ruled out theft or fraudulent interest. On the other hand, the prosecutor mentioned a “significant disagreement” between the victim and her daughter-in-law, which seemed linked to cohabitation tensions. These family disputes, well known to loved ones, could be at the heart of this tragedy.
The custody of the two teenagers, which began last Tuesday, should end with their presentation before a judge. An indictment for “assassination” is requested for the boyfriend, while the daughter-in-law should be prosecuted for complicity. The conclusions of the investigation could help clarify the precise circumstances of this act of rare violence, which shocked the small community of Ruffey-les-Echirey.
