Former Owner’s Remains Found in French Attic by Renovating Buyers

Homebuyers undertaking renovations in a property in eastern France made an unusual discovery in the attic: the remains of the former owner, according to prosecutors on Monday. The regional publication Le Republicain Lorrain reported that the remains belonged to Aloïs Iffly, who owned the house and vanished in 2009 at 81 years old. His wife resided in the residence until her passing in 2020, which led to the property being put up for sale. Prosecutor Olivier Glady stated that the circumstances “hints at suicide”, noting that a rope was still suspended in the attic when the body was located on 2 November. The residence is situated in Erstroff, a small community under an hour’s drive from the German city of Saarbrücken. The sale of the property occurred in 2023, and the new proprietors had initiated renovation work. Their search for a roof leak’s origin led them to a cubbyhole where the “skeletal remains” were found, according to Mr. Glady. Law enforcement officials are currently investigating the death’s cause, and the body has been transported to Strasbourg for an autopsy. The findings from this examination may resolve the enigma surrounding Aloïs Iffly’s vanishing, which has persisted for 15 years despite considerable search efforts, as reported by Le Republicain Lorrain.