A young couple who went missing nearly five months ago have been found dead.
Leslie Hoorelbeke, 22, and 21-year-old Kevin Trompat had planned on staying at a friend’s house in Prahecq, a commune in the Deux-Sèvres Département of western France, on November 26.
But the pair never arrived, sparking a search of the nearby area.
Tragically, two bodies were found earlier this month and the authorities later confirmed their identities.
Kevin’s body was dug up in a field by the side of the road in Puyravault, a town where some of the couple’s belongings were found in December.
Leslie’s remains were found in a grove in the neighbouring town of Virson.
Public prosecutor Cyril Lacombe confirmed the victims were probably killed by blows “with a blunt instrument”.
The couple had met a month before their tragic deaths through a mutual friend.
They left a friend’s home in Prahecq at around 2.30am to travel to the house of another pal, named as 22-year-old Tom Trouillet, but never arrived.
Several days later, clothing and other items, including Kevin’s road safety certificate, were found in a recycling bin.
On the evening of his disappearance, Kevin had €10,000 (£8,800) in cash with him to buy a second-hand car, according to his stepmother who says she loaned him the sum.
At the time, the victims' families told local media that they believed the couple had been kidnapped.
Three people have since been arrested in connection with the crime, including the friend whose house they were travelling to.
Tom Trouillet was indicted for kidnapping and forcible confinement on 2 March.
The following day, a second suspect – identified as Nathan Badji, 22 – was indicted for murder, modifying the scene of a crime, and kidnapping.
A third suspect – named only as Enzo C. – was subsequently indicted on the same charges as Nathan.
The prosecutors have yet to divulge a possible motive for the couple’s alleged murders.
The suspects are being held in a preventive prison as the investigation continues.
