A man was arrested overnight in France on charges of having kidnapped and killed a 6-year-old girl, the daughter of his partner , in a forest near Saint Martin de l'If.
Since late yesterday evening, more than 100 gendarmes had been mobilized for a kidnapping alarm against Celya, 6 years old, who disappeared from her home in Saint Martin de l'If , about 20 km north-west of Rouene. "It is probable that she was kidnapped by her mother's partner", a 42-year-old man, the gendarmerie said. The mother had called the police to say that her partner, who is not the child's father, had just attacked her with a knife. She had managed to escape but the man was still there with the little girl .
When the officers arrived at the house, however, they found it empty. The search began immediately, including with a dog team and a helicopter. During the night, Celya's lifeless body was found, a few hours later the man was also found and arrested, accused of murder . He had taken refuge in a forest.
The couple, as far as we know, had not been reported for domestic violence, but according to a source close to the investigation the man was also known to justice for behavioral problems.
(Unioneonline/L)
