A human skeleton, likely that of a man who vanished 15 years ago, was discovered by new owners renovating a house in eastern France. Prosecutor Olivier Glady reported on Monday that the remains were found in Erstroff, near the German city of Saarbrücken.
The skeletal remains were located in a hard-to-reach area under the roof, with the entrance nearly concealed. The discovery occurred on Saturday afternoon as the owners were investigating a rainwater leak in the attic. One of them inadvertently entered a hidden cubbyhole, where the remains were found.
The body is believed to belong to the former owner, who disappeared in 2009 at the age of 81. Local authorities are now investigating the cause of death, and the remains have been sent to Strasbourg for forensic examination.
According to the regional newspaper Le Républicain Lorrain, the man’s disappearance had remained a mystery despite extensive searches in the area. His wife passed away in 2020, leading to the sale of the house. Prosecutor Glady indicated that the circumstances of the discovery may suggest suicide, noting that a rope was found still hanging in the attic.
