Mother Suspected of Killing Her Three Children Found Dead in Switzerland Following Manhunt
A mother accused of fatally stabbing her three young children in their alpine home in France has been found dead in Switzerland. Deborah Pel, a 45-year-old teacher with dual French-Swiss citizenship, fled her small town of Taninges after allegedly killing her children, aged two, 11, and 13, on Tuesday afternoon. Authorities found a note at the scene, but the motive behind the tragic killings remains unknown, reported by the Mirror.
French newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré reported that after Pel left Taninges in her brown Audi SUV, Swiss authorities discovered her body in the vehicle on Wednesday. The cause of her death has not yet been disclosed. The children’s lifeless bodies were discovered by their grandparents in the family’s home, located just 10 miles from the Swiss border.
Following the discovery, around 60 French police officers, supported by helicopters and diving squads, launched a manhunt for Pel, according to the Daily Mail. French investigators, aware of her Swiss citizenship, sought assistance from Swiss authorities, who flagged her vehicle when it crossed the border. The investigation has been taken over by the Bonneville public prosecutor’s office, which is currently interviewing family members to gather information.
Pel was part of a blended family and had a young child with her partner, who is also the father of the youngest victim. Her partner’s identity has not been disclosed. Pel, a teacher in the nearby town of Marnaz, had reportedly been transferred from her previous school after a petition and complaints from parents about her behavior. Local media indicated she struggled with depression.
Beyond her teaching role, Pel was deeply involved in her community, serving as treasurer of the town’s music school and performing as a flautist with the Samoëns municipal harmony. Last year, she received an award for her dedication to music after 30 years of playing the flute.
The shocking incident has left the Taninges community in mourning. The head teacher at the Jacques Brel middle school, where the two older children attended, declined to comment, while Pel’s former school is preparing to address questions from concerned students and parents. A substitute teacher has been appointed to take over Pel’s class.
This tragedy follows a similarly harrowing case on the French island of Guadeloupe, where two young siblings were found decapitated in a bathtub last week. Their mother, the prime suspect, was discovered wandering the streets in a distressed state and has since been hospitalized.
These heartbreaking incidents have cast a shadow across France, as communities grapple with the devastating loss of young lives and the tragedies within families.