It is a real tragedy that is shaking the town of Rezé, in Loire-Atlantique.
The mayor of this town of 42,000 inhabitants of the metropolis of Nantes, died by hanging, we learned this Friday from the Nantes prosecutor's office, confirming information from the local media.
The latter specifying that the elected official was discovered in the premises of his town hall.
"I confirm this death by hanging," the Nantes prosecutor's office told AFP, without immediately providing more details on the circumstances of this tragedy.
Body found by housekeeper
The mayor of Nantes explained on Twitter that she had learned "the brutal death of Hervé Neau" this Friday.
"It's a real drama, a real shock," she commented.
I have just learned of the sudden death of Hervé Neau, Mayor of Rezé.
It is a terrible tragedy, a real shock.
All my support and all my thoughts to his family, his loved ones, his team and all the Rezéennes and Rezéens in this terrible ordeal.
— Johanna Rolland (@Johanna_Rolland) February 11, 2022
“Terrible and shocking news.
Hervé Neau was a committed and exemplary mayor.
I am thinking of his relatives, and also of the entire municipal team and the agents of Rezé, ”said Maine-et-Loire deputy Matthieu Orphelin on Twitter.
Similarly, in a press release published at the end of the morning, Michel Ménard, president of the Loire-Atlantique department, expressed his “great sadness” and evokes the “shock” caused by this “brutal death”.
It is with great sadness that I learn this morning of the brutal death of Hervé Neau, Mayor of #Rezé, a city for which he was very committed.
His passing is a shock to all those who knew him.
All my thoughts go out to his family and loved ones.
pic.twitter.com/zJ6IaxQ61l
– Michel MENARD (@Michel_MENARD) February 11, 2022
According to Ouest-France, the body of Hervé Neau was found by a cleaning lady.
It was his first term as mayor, but not his debut in politics since he had already been a municipal councilor and then deputy mayor.
As France Bleu recalls, Hervé Neau was, before that, director of an elementary school.
The judicial police have been seized of the investigation, we learned from a police source.
Still according to Ouest-France, the elected official and members of his entourage had received anonymous and malicious letters in recent weeks.
These letters had even been reported to the police, reveals the local media.