L'appartement familial était une véritable prison

Summary

A 51-year-old man kept a horrifying secret, concealing his family in a squalid, mold-ridden apartment for three years without daylight or fresh air. The confinement was discovered when his wife fell ill, prompting a call to the fire department. The police found the wife and four children, aged 14 to 20, living in darkness with shuttered windows and padlocked doors. The eldest daughter had escaped years prior. The family seemed to have accepted their reclusive life without resistance. The story began in 1982 when the father, Dominique, met his future wife, Christine, after a car accident near his home.

Takeaways

• 🏠 A 51-year-old man living in a suburban neighborhood had a terrible secret that he kept hidden for years.
• 🚨 His secret was discovered when his wife experienced a health crisis at night, prompting a call to the fire department.
• 👮‍♂️ Upon entering the apartment, firefighters were shocked and called the police for backup due to the appalling living conditions.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The man had allegedly imprisoned his family, including his wife and four children, in their own home.
• 🕷️ The apartment was described as unhygienic with blackened walls, cockroaches, and a strong odor due to lack of ventilation.
• 🌑 The children, aged 14 to 20, were found living in darkness with shutters always closed and windows locked.
• 🤔 The family seemed to have accepted this secluded lifestyle without ever rebelling against the father's control.
• 💔 The story of the family began in 1982 when the father, then 21, met his future wife in a chance encounter.
• 🎨 The couple married and initially had a seemingly happy family life, with the father working as a building painter and the mother as a cleaner.
• 👶 The siblings of the father remember the early years fondly when the couple spent time nurturing their children.

Q & A

What was the unusual behavior of the 51-year-old man that caught the attention of his neighbors?

The man was seen quickly going in and out of his house to empty the trash and always locking himself in.

What secret was the man hiding that he could have kept for a longer time?

He was hiding the fact that he had imprisoned his family in their apartment.

What event led to the discovery of the family's imprisonment?

The wife, Christine, had a health issue in the middle of the night, prompting a family member to call the fire department.

How did the police describe the condition of the apartment where the family was found?

The police described the apartment as having black walls, a strong smell, and being infested with cockroaches. It was also noted that the apartment was unventilated and the windows were nailed shut.

How long had the family been living in these conditions?

The family had been living in these conditions for nearly three years.

Who were the family members that were found imprisoned in the apartment?

The imprisoned family members were Christine, the wife, and four of their children: Donatien (14 years old), Caroline (17 years old), Céline (19 years old), and Maëva (20 years old).

Why was Laetitia, the eldest daughter, not imprisoned with the rest of the family?

Laetitia, who is 25 years old, had left the house several years prior and thus escaped imprisonment.

What was the initial impression of the family's living conditions when the police found them?

The family members were found in their bedroom, with very pale complexions, living without daylight as the shutters were always closed and the windows were padlocked.

How did the family seem to react to their living situation?

The family appeared to have accepted this reclusive life without ever rebelling.

How did Dominique and Christine's relationship start?

Dominique and Christine's relationship started when they met after Christine was involved in a car accident near Dominique's parents' house. Dominique had a love at first sight experience.

What were the early years of Dominique and Christine's family life like?

In the early years, the family seemed happy. Dominique's siblings have nostalgic memories of this time when the couple spent their time doting on their children.