Monday October 28, 2019, the gendarmes were alerted to the suicide of a woman, in Trévenans, a small town about fifteen kilometers from Belfort. The victim's name is Marie-Claude Franz. It was his daughter who called for help. She has just been warned by her father-in-law, Fabrice Franz, who discovered the body.
The police push the door to the couple's bedroom. Marie-Claude Franz, 65 years old, dressed and made up for the day, barefoot, is lying straight as an i on the bed. The head rests on a blood-stained pillow. A bullet hole is visible on the forehead, left side. The victim was however right-handed.
Fabrice Franz, 54, explains suicide by the depressive state of his wife, but also because of the tension which reigned for more than a year between the wife and her daughter unique Sandra, born from a first union. “Sandra is the first to have doubts. Yes, his mother had some depression, but she would never have committed suicide, says Virginie Selvetti, journalist who worked on this affair. This October 28, they were to meet for lunch and Marie-Claude was delighted. Above all, Sandra explains that her mother was terrified of guns.
The investigation focuses on a famous disagreement around family heritage. When questioned, a notary indicates that Fabrice Franz tried to have your daughter-in-law sign certain papers, Sandra Ecarnot. He warned Sandra against this operation: “Such a project risked completely disinheriting her,” indicates the notary.
Questionable behavior
The police go from surprise to surprise. They discover that the husband has a mistress. The adulterous couple have been dating for more than three years. They found themselves clandestinely in a hotel in the region and even considered living together. Had Marie-Claude become an obstacle to their union?
“The orientation of the head injury, with the fact that it is rather on the left while the victim is right-handed. The confusing attitude of Fabrice Franz who will contact many witnesses by passing messages that she was indeed suicidal. This behavior, this way of wanting to exploit witnesses, the efforts made to hide the existence of his mistress are all elements which will direct the investigators towards him, reports Me Jérôme Pichoff, lawyer for the daughter and brothers and sisters of Marie-Claude Franz.”
Wednesday November 4, 2020, Fabrice Franz and his mistress, Isabelle, were placed in police custody. The young woman is quickly exonerated. The husband certainly admits his extramarital affair, but he certifies that Marie-Claude was depressed. However, over the hours of police custody, he appears more and more lost. He ends up saying that he sees himself again as in a dream, holding a gun. “Yes, I was the one who shot,” he said.
Monday December 14, 2020, Fabrice Franz is before the Montbéliard investigating judge. He returns to his confession: he did hold the weapon that killed his wife on October 28, 2019, but did not fire it. Franz explains that that morning, his wife was sad and held a gun above her forehead. He indicates having approached, having delicately placed his hand on the weapon to disarm the dog. He specifies that Marie-Claude has moved. The shot went off.
Sandra, the victim's daughter, paints a dark portrait of the accused. “I always suspected my father-in-law. I always thought he was responsible for my mother’s death.” Thursday September 21, after three and a half hours of deliberation, Fabrice Franz was sentenced to thirty years in prison.
Guests from “Hour of Crime”
– Me Jérôme Pichoff, lawyer at the Besançon bar, lawyer for the daughter and brothers and sisters of Marie-Claude Franz.
– Virginie Selvetti, journalist who worked on this affair, notably for Chroniques Criminelles.
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