His wife died suddenly of cancer on August 10.
A French widower has discovered the remains of three infants whilst clearing out his home following his wife's death.
The unnamed man called police on Monday after finding one set of remains in a closet at the property in Mézeray, near the city of Le Mans, German news site
RTL reports.
Officers then
reportedly found a further two sets of decomposed remains in bags, as well as two kitchen knives, in 'a locked cabinet, in a shed away from the house.'
It is unclear whether the remains belong to newborns, infants, or foetuses due to their advanced state of decomposition. They do not appear to date from the same period.
A technical examination of the site was carried out and officers took statements from the man and other relatives.
A public prosecutor said on Tuesday that an investigation has been launched into the discoveries, with autopsies ordered to determine each child's cause of death.
The prosecutor added that the autopsies should also help to identify the children's parents.
The man, 41, had been clearing out the home following the death of his wife, 44, from cancer on August 10.
RTL reports that the couple had no children together but the woman had two children from a previous relationship.
