A French man discovered the decomposing remains of five newborn babies hidden in cardboard boxes inside his home.
A 32-year-old man in the town of Orange, France, discovered the decomposing remains of five newborn babies hidden inside cardboard boxes in his home. The discovery was made on Monday after his 32-year-old wife gave birth to a healthy baby boy at home and was subsequently taken to a hospital for abdominal pain. The man, who was previously unaware of the pregnancies, became suspicious during an argument with his wife over the contents of the boxes. French prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into suspected murder. While the woman was hospitalized, the man notified authorities, who confirmed the remains included bones from four newborns and one decomposing body. Autopsies and anthropological analysis have been ordered to determine the exact causes of death and how long the remains had been in the home. The couple, who already have two older children, have placed the newborn baby in temporary protective custody while child welfare officials assess the family's circumstances.