Prosecutors in western France have opened an investigation into murder, abduction and illegal confinement.
Intensive searches are underway for a family of four who have disappeared, leaving their bloodstained home behind them.
The Troadec family were last seen on the 16th of February. The parents, Pascal and Brigitte, are both 50. Their son Sebastien is 21 and daughter Charlotte is 18. Brigitte's sister informed the police they were missing.
INFO BFMTV. Famille disparue `a Orvault: la voiture de S'ebastien Troadec retrouv'ee https://t.co/aXp2dDRccX pic.twitter.com/p7jbIbDhJx- BFMTV (@BFMTV) 2 mars 2017
#Finist`ere - Enqu^ete #Troadec : 22 gendarmes, 40 'el`eves-gendarmes et une 'equipe cynophile participent aux recherches aux c^ot'es de la #Police pic.twitter.com/0FL8fn3rzq- GendarmerieNationale (@Gendarmerie) 1 mars 2017
'Etang du Roual (29); sept plongeurs fouillent les eaux `a la recherche d''el'ements #disparition #Troadec pic.twitter.com/bWZS2lOGUO- S'ebastien Baer (@seb_baer) 2 mars 2017
What we know
Family last seen on 16 February
Bloodstains matching the DNA of three family members found in house
No activity in any of their bank accounts or mobile phones
Charlotte's health card and pair of trousers found near Brest, 300 km from Nantes on Wednesday
Sebastien's car found 50 km away at St Nazaire on Thursday
Two other family cars left parked on drive
Affaire #Troadec. Aucun corps dans la voiture https://t.co/w353Mvyu99 pic.twitter.com/q1rySzBtFH- Le T'el'egramme (@LeTelegramme) 2 mars 2017
#SaintNazaire La voiture de S'ebastien Troadec quitte le parking de l''eglise de M'ean o`u elle a 'et'e d'ecouverte `a 10h20 ce matin. pic.twitter.com/aThed7D2NQ- FranceBleuLoireOc'ean (@bleuloireocean) 2 mars 2017
Bloodstains
Investigators have searched the family's two-storey house near Nantes. Bloodstains matching the DNA of both parents and Sebastien have been found. However, none match the DNA of 18-year-old Charlotte.
The local prosecutor says traces of blood were found on Sebastien's mobile phone, Brigitte's watch and under the stairs. It appears attempts had been made to wipe them away.
Time seemed to have stopped inside the house, according to experts at the scene. The beds had been stripped and sheets had been left drying on an airer. There were still wet clothes in the washing machine and food in the refrigerator, which was going off.
FOLLOW this infographic as it takes you through the police investigation so far here
Speculation
Given the lack of concrete information, there is widespread speculation about what may have become of the family.
There are reports Pascal Troadec has had depression.
21-year-old Sebastien was given a community service order in 2013 after being convicted of making death threats on his blog.
Local media are also comparing the case with the disappearance of five members of the same family in Nantes in 2011. The father remains the main suspect and is still at large.
The Troadec family has not been seen nor heard from in two weeks. and their disappearance is baffling France https://t.co/kABQwSk5Jg pic.twitter.com/H6iFK8u1wT- dwnews (@dwnews) 2 mars 2017
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