©Valentin Karisch via Unsplash
A French woman and her three young children were found dead on Monday morning after falling from an apartment building in the southern French city of Toulon. Police assume an act of desperation.
The victims are a 38-year-old mother, two boys and a girl aged three to six. Their bodies were found around 5 a.m. at the foot of an apartment building in the Pontcarral neighborhood. All four had succumbed from their injuries. This was reported by the French public prosecutor's office in Toulon.
According to initial determinations, the woman is believed to have jumped from the 13th floor with her children. Authorities say the mother may have been struggling with mental illness and depression, although that has yet to be confirmed.
The woman lived in the building with her seven children and had been staying there for four years. When emergency services arrived, her four oldest children were also at home. They have been placed with the appropriate authorities and are getting psychological counseling.
As of yet, there is no indication that anyone else was involved in the tragedy. The family was not known to the prosecutor's office and there were previously no reports of any problems within the family. Psychological help has been initiated for local residents. "We all know each other, we form a close-knit community. It's incredibly sad," one resident told BFM TV.
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©Valentin Karisch via Unsplash - illustration image