Conspiracy theorist mom convinced two children, 8 and 15, husband and twin sister to jump off 7th floor balcony
MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND: A 41-year-old woman, who became obsessed with conspiracy theories, persuaded her family to leap to their deaths from their seventh-floor apartment after the pandemic and the Ukraine war made her believe the world was not worth living. Nasrine Feraoun, her twin sister Narjisse, her husband Eric David, 40, and their eight-year-old daughter died on March 24, 2022, after jumping off the balcony of their apartment in Montreux, Switzerland.
Feraoun’s son, 15-year-old at that time, was the sole survivor of the incident but had no memory of what happened that day. He was in a coma but has since recovered from his serious injuries, according to investigators. The autopsies showed no trace of drugs in the victims' bodies while forensic evidence determined that no struggle occurred before the deaths. The witness also noted that none of the family members screamed as they fell off the balcony, according to Daily Mail.
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Why did the family commit suicide?
The investigators said the family, who had moved to Switzerland from France two years ago, had not shown any signs that they were planning to kill themselves. Additionally, officers also found a stepladder on the balcony which was believed to have helped the family step over the railing, according to Swiss broadcaster SRF. The coroner's findings and security video from the area around the apartment also supports the suicide theory by detectives.
The officers, who first responded to the scene, noted that the family’s apartment was full of food, medicines, and hygiene materials – all stocked and organized. It was also reported that the family was isolated, hardly went out, and home-schooled the two children. Swiss authorities also added that the mother, and her sister, who were suspicious of the government, were deeply involved in survivalist and conspiracy theories. They were convinced that the world was a hostile place and led their children to believe the same. The Covid-19 outbreak and the Ukrainian conflict only served to confirm their theory, according to investigators. "Since the start of the pandemic, the family was very interested in conspiracy and survivalist theories," the officers noted.
'Move to a better world'
After searching the apartment and their electronic devices, the officers determined that the collective suicide was thoroughly planned and the family even rehearsed the plan before choosing the right moment to "move to a better world." "Before or during the events, no witnesses, including the two police officers present on the spot from 6.15 am and the passers-by at the foot of the building, heard the slightest noise or cry coming from the apartment or the balcony," police said. "Technical investigations show no warning signs of such an act," they added.
The collective suicide came just two days after two officers conducted a welfare visit at the family’s apartment as David failed to reply to several letters regarding the home-schooling of one of his children. The officers knocked on the door and heard a voice ask who they were. After failing to make contact, the officers left. A year after the incident, police announced that now the case will be closed.
