A man in the French town of Orange discovered the remains of five newborns concealed in cardboard boxes after his partner was taken to a hospital for abdominal pain.
The couple, both 32, already had two children aged eight and nine. The woman had given birth to a baby boy at home the day before the discovery.
During an argument about the boxes, the woman complained of severe abdominal pain and was transported to a hospital. The husband remained at the home and opened the boxes, finding the decomposing remains.
He promptly alerted authorities at the hospital where his wife was being treated. Police entered the residence and launched a criminal investigation for suspected murder.
A forensic pathologist determined that the remains consisted of four skeletal newborns and the decomposing body of a fifth. Autopsies and laboratory testing have been ordered, and the bones will undergo anthropological analysis.
The husband stated he was unaware of any prior pregnancies. Prosecutors have asked child welfare services to assess the health of the couple’s older children and have issued a provisional placement order for the newborn pending a court review.
The mother, still hospitalized, has not yet spoken to investigators. Authorities continue to gather evidence and conduct further examinations.
A neighbor described the family as “normal people” and noted that the wife was a stay‑at‑home mother while the husband worked. No previous incidents or problems had been reported.
