5 skeletons found under French flats
Susan Bell
Scotsman, UK
__________
Paris (France):
Detectives were yesterday investigating the mysterious discovery of five female skeletons buried beneath the courtyard of a nondescript block of flats in the French town of Meaux, near Paris.
The first skeleton was found last week by a workman renovating the property. It was lying on its back, arms by its side, in a shallow grave.
Police had already sent the remains to the Paris coroner's office for analysis when the same workman made another gruesome discovery only a few hours later. This time, the skeleton was that of a tall woman, her arms crossed over her chest.
Police recovered pieces of wood and several rusty nailheads from the earth surrounding both skulls, suggesting the remains had been placed inside coffins before burial.
Last Friday, the mystery deepened after the first results from the coroner's office showed that the second skeleton was composed of bones from three bodies. Further excavations uncovered two more skeletons. On Wednesday police brought in a mechanical digger and uncovered a fifth skeleton.
Police said yesterday they were unsure whether they were dealing with a serial killer or whether the remains were those of Benedictine nuns whose convent had occupied the site about 200 years ago.
June 09, 2006
Susan Bell
Scotsman, UK
__________
Paris (France):
Detectives were yesterday investigating the mysterious discovery of five female skeletons buried beneath the courtyard of a nondescript block of flats in the French town of Meaux, near Paris.
The first skeleton was found last week by a workman renovating the property. It was lying on its back, arms by its side, in a shallow grave.
Police had already sent the remains to the Paris coroner's office for analysis when the same workman made another gruesome discovery only a few hours later. This time, the skeleton was that of a tall woman, her arms crossed over her chest.
Police recovered pieces of wood and several rusty nailheads from the earth surrounding both skulls, suggesting the remains had been placed inside coffins before burial.
Last Friday, the mystery deepened after the first results from the coroner's office showed that the second skeleton was composed of bones from three bodies. Further excavations uncovered two more skeletons. On Wednesday police brought in a mechanical digger and uncovered a fifth skeleton.
Police said yesterday they were unsure whether they were dealing with a serial killer or whether the remains were those of Benedictine nuns whose convent had occupied the site about 200 years ago.
June 09, 2006
