A French woman in her 60s remains in custody, suspected of killing her husband and daughter, who were found dead in a hotel room on June 14. The investigation remains active, with police awaiting further evidence and international cooperation from France and Ireland.
Suspect never in life-threatening condition
The Metropolitan Police’s Central Investigations Unit is continuing to investigate the deaths of a French father and daughter, in their 60s and 40s respectively, who were found deceased in a fourth-floor room at the Edition Hotel near Reykjavík Harbour earlier this month, RÚV reports.
A woman in her 60s, believed to be the wife and mother of the victims, is currently in custody at the National University Hospital, suspected of causing their deaths. A hotel employee discovered the bodies, and the scene is said to have been horrific. The woman sustained stab wounds herself, though she was never in life-threatening condition, despite spending some time in intensive care. It remains unclear whether she inflicted the injuries on herself.
According to the radio programme Spegillinn, the police are unlikely to release her before the investigation is complete and the case is submitted to the district prosecutor. The decision to indict rests with the district prosecutor and is not expected before early September, when the 12-week legal limit for holding a suspect in custody without charges expires.
Hotel room remains sealed
As noted by RÚV, the woman has been remanded in custody until July 4 on investigative grounds. At the next court hearing, prosecutors are expected to argue continued detention on public interest grounds—namely, that releasing the suspect could shock the public and undermine trust in the justice system. The woman has already been questioned twice, but investigators are waiting on additional evidence to form a clearer picture.
A knife has been seized as evidence, though police have declined to provide further details. Forensic investigation of the hotel room is still underway but nearing completion. The room remains sealed and has not yet been returned to the hotel.
Two rooms and regular day trips
Many questions surrounding the case remain unanswered.
In recent days, police have focused on better understanding the family’s time in Iceland. This has involved time-consuming work, including reviewing electronic data from the family’s devices and hotel surveillance footage. The family appeared to behave like typical tourists, taking day trips but returning each night to the Edition Hotel, where they had two rooms booked. They arrived in Iceland on June 7 and were scheduled to fly back to Dublin on the morning they were found. A single night at the hotel is said to cost no less than ISK 150,000 [€1,000 / $1,070] per room.
Suffered from kidney failure
The case is further complicated by the fact that the deceased man reportedly suffered from long-term, severe health problems. According to RÚV, he had advanced kidney failure, was in poor physical condition, and should have been undergoing regular dialysis.
Police have not released the identities of those involved. However, RÚV reports that the man was from New Caledonia, a French territory in the southwestern Pacific. The woman was born in France to Asian parents. The couple had only one daughter together but each has siblings whom police have contacted.
Although the case is currently being investigated under homicide statutes, the man’s serious illness could alter how the case proceeds, RÚV notes. Icelandic law allows for reduced sentencing—up to three years imprisonment—if someone causes another person’s death at their urgent request.
No presence on major social media platforms
A degree of mystery surrounds the family. They appear to have been well-off and reportedly moved from France to Dublin in 2017, though the reason is unclear. None of the family members had a presence on major social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, and online searches have yielded little background information.
According to RÚV, Icelandic police sent formal requests for assistance to both France and Ireland this week. The actions requested from Irish authorities are reportedly more extensive, reflecting the fact that the family had lived in Ireland for nearly a decade. Despite media coverage in both countries, no one has come forward to speak about the family or their background.
The Reykjavík Metropolitan Police declined to comment, stating that the investigation is ongoing.
