The investigation continues to follow its course two days after the murders of Pouyastruc teachers (a man and woman) in Pouyastruc village, Tarbes (Hautes-Pyrenees). This Wednesday, Pierre Aurignac, Tarbes’ public prosecutor, held a press conference to update the public on the state of the investigation.
The suspect remains at large. The investigation focuses on a region that spans France and Spain. Pierre Aurignac said that they are currently underway in the Hautes-Pyrenees as well as in neighboring departments, where 100 gendarmes have been deployed.
Jaca, a small Spanish village located in Aragon about 200km from the crime scene, is also being investigated. This city is where the important search device was also in place on Tuesday morning when the suspect’s motorbike was discovered.
The husband of the victim is the suspect. He works in the Pyrenees -Atlantiques as a worker, manufacturing helicopter engines. The victim and he were going through a separation.
The prosecutor stated that there were “exchanges at one time” with the suspect. He also said that contact was broken without it being possible to locate the “former reservist and sports shooter”. The prosecutor stated that “a number of weapons were discovered in his home” and added that there was no criminal record.
A neighbor alerted the Gendarmes after finding the 32-year old woman lying in a street of Pouyastruc late Monday afternoon. They found a 55-year old man who had died in his home, just a few metres away.
Gabriel Fourmigue was a physical education teacher and Aurelie pardon was a French teacher at Desaix college, Tarbes. Pierre Aurignac, a prosecutor, said that they had “become closer emotionalally in recent weeks during school trips.” He said that everything suggests that the drama was connected to the context of separation.
Originating from Gers, he was well-known for his sporting achievements. After winning the world junior bobsleigh title, he represented France at the Winter Olympics, Albertville, 1992, and Lillehammer, Norway in 1994. Carole Fratus (President Condom Rugby Club) said that “Gaby” was an exceptional boy. He was always smiling and a joy to be around.
Since then, the two children of the victim and the wanted suspect have been taken care of by other family members.
Judicial information has been opened with the qualification of “assassinations”, while the file will now be transferred to Pau’s public prosecutor’s office, which finally identified Tarbes.
