72-year-old woman bound and killed in Roncq: murder investigation opened
The body of a 72-year-old woman was discovered bound and face down in Roncq. A murder investigation has been opened.
Murder in Roncq: septuagenarian found bound by neighbour
The body of a 72-year-old woman was discovered on Thursday evening, shortly after 6 p.m., at 66 rue de la Latte in Roncq, a small weaver's cottage situated on a busy thoroughfare leading to the town centre. According to lepopulaire.fr, the word "homicide" appears on the seals affixed to the door of the residence.
The victim, a widow of Kabyle origin, had no children. It was a neighbour, who came to bring her some groceries, who discovered the body. When nobody answered, she pushed the door and found herself faced with the corpse. The woman was dead, lying face down, bound at the ankles. The neighbour did not wish to speak publicly.
Criminal act confirmed by prosecutors
The prosecutor of the Lille Republic, Samuel Finielz, indicated that "initial findings appear to establish that this is a criminal act". A murder investigation has been opened. An autopsy is scheduled for next week.
According to BFM information, two small empty safes were reportedly found near the body. A theory of a burglary that went wrong is being considered. The mayor of Roncq, Rodrigue Desmet, for his part felt it is "too early to know what happened".
A discreet woman, little known to her neighbourhood
Several residents of the area were questioned. All agreed that they knew little of the victim, despite her presence on the street for many years.
"She was often alone outside on her doorstep," testifies a neighbour to La Voix du Nord. "Sometimes she would call out to me to ask for a small favour. She asked me to come inside to update her television because she couldn't get the channels. It's like in apartment buildings, sometimes you don't know your neighbours on the landing… We would say hello and goodbye to each other."
Another neighbour confirms the atmosphere of the street: "It's a particular sort of street, with everyone keeping to themselves. There are no neighbourhood parties, there's nothing. When I saw this lady, we would talk, but I didn't know much about her."
The victim regularly received visits from nurses. A care worker recalls crossing paths with her frequently: "This lady, I only knew her by sight, she was completely alone. It's strange for me because I saw her no more than two days ago… I wonder what happened. It could be for money… Roncq is quite an upmarket town, things sometimes happen here that don't always make the newspapers."
Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)