# Orange, France infant murder case – investigation expands > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/infant-deaths-investigation-in-orange-france > Updated: 2026-08-04T16:30:30.000Z. Sources: 124. Developments: 3. Police in Orange, Vaucluse uncovered five infant bodies in late July 2026 – four skeletal remains and a decomposing newborn believed to have died between April 2018 and October 2025. The 32‑year‑old mother, who gave birth at home, was placed in pre‑trial detention and, on 30 July 2026, formally charged with murder of minors under 15 before a judge in Avignon. Her 32‑year‑old partner, who discovered the remains, remains released. Autopsies have been ordered on the five infants to determine the circumstances of their deaths, and the investigation remains complex and ongoing. On 4 August 2026, French police announced a coordinated probe into suspicious child deaths in Lyon, Marseille, Orange and Nice. In Orange, the case of the five infants continues to be examined by forensic experts, with authorities maintaining the possibility of further detention of the adults while evidence is gathered. The broader investigation highlights the precarious social situations of the families involved and underscores that all cases have been assigned to the police judiciaire, which is conducting autopsies and collecting additional evidence. Child‑welfare services continue to assess the family’s situation, the older children remain with relatives, and the newborn born healthy on the day of discovery is under the protection of a child‑welfare judge. ## Claims - The skeletal remains of four infants and the decomposing body of a newborn were found in an apartment in Orange, Vaucluse, France. (disputed by 9 sources) - Two other children, aged eight and nine, were placed with relatives, and the newborn was placed under child‑welfare protection. (disputed by 8 sources) - A 32‑year‑old mother was placed in pre‑trial detention and presented to a judge for indictment on murder of minors under 15. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The mother gave birth at home on a Sunday; the newborn was healthy. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The five infants are believed to have died between April 2018 and October 2025. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The mother’s 32‑year‑old partner was released after being held in custody. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The prosecutor’s office of Avignon opened an information judicial for murder of minors under 15. (corroborated by 8 sources) - An investigation and autopsies have been ordered for the Orange case. (single source) - A two‑year‑old boy was found dead, strangled with a blind‑fold cord, in an apartment in Marseille's 14th arrondissement. (single source) - A judicial inquiry has been opened for possible voluntary homicide and violent offences against a minor. (single source) - Autopsy results did not conclusively determine whether the death was accidental or involved a third party. (single source) - The child's mother and her partner deny involvement, describing the incident as an accident. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-04: Police probe child deaths in Lyon, Marseille, Orange and Nice French police are investigating child deaths in Lyon, Marseille, Orange and Nice, involving a mother, a father and a couple, with custody and judicial proceedings underway. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/infant-homicide-investigations-launched-after-bodies-found-in-orange-and-marseille-france ### 2026-07-30: Orange, France mother charged in five‑infant murder case Five infant bodies were found in an Orange apartment; the 32‑year‑old mother is in pre‑trial detention and faces murder charges, while her partner was released. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/saint-tienne-mother-detained-for-newborn-murder ### 2026-07-28: Five newborns discovered dead in Orange, France Police in Orange, France found five newborns’ remains in cardboard boxes after a 32‑year‑old mother gave birth to a healthy baby; a murder inquiry is underway. 103 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/five-newborns-discovered-dead-in-boxes-in-orange-france --- Cite as: Orange, France infant murder case – investigation expands. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/infant-deaths-investigation-in-orange-france