The interior of a house in Kfar Shima, Mount Lebanon, in which five bodies were found on Aug. 14, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/OLJ)
Five bodies from the same family were discovered Tuesday in a house in Kfar Shima, Mount Lebanon, a senior Lebanese Army source confirmed to L'Orient-Le Jour on Wednesday.
According to the National News Agency (NNA), two brothers from the victim’s family are under suspicion of being the perpetrators of the crime, with one reported deceased.
The military source, when asked for details, said they had no further information, noting that the case has been transferred to the Internal Security Forces (ISF). The police have not yet responded to our request for comment.
The army's intelligence services found the bodies stored in a basement after neighbors reported a "foul odor" coming from the home of the two suspects, E. F. and C. F., who lived there with their 90-year-old mother, NNA reported.
The mother of the victims found dead in Kfar Shima, Mount Lebanon, on Aug. 14, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/OLJ)
The deceased are believed to be the father, his daughter, and three sons, reported NNA. According to local news channel al-Jadeed, the father and the daughter had died "a long time ago," while one brother died "three or four months ago," and another "recently passed away."
NNA added that C. F. was arrested Tuesday night and claimed his brother E. F., also sought by police, "died ten days ago."
An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the deaths.
According to LBC, after being questioned by the FSI, C. F. confessed that the remains found were those of his siblings and his father. This information was confirmed by the results of DNA samples taken from the victims' bodies. The suspect also claimed that one of his brothers died on July 27 and that their mother is still alive. He reportedly also mentioned that his "family’s will specified their burial at the house."
A forensic pathologist's examination determined E. F.'s death was due to natural causes, LBC relayed. The examination report also notes that some of the remains have been in the home since 1986.
Suspicious Home in Kfar Shima
Surveillance cameras, shoes and tires were placed around the house, which was covered with black tarps, making it look suspicious to neighbors, NNA reported.
The neighbors had previously complained about "strange behavior" from the two brothers, including "occasional assaults" on passersby.
One of the neighbors interviewed by al-Jadeed stated that the brothers "attacked" locals by throwing objects at them. Another neighbor claimed the suspects fired at nearby buildings with a hunting rifle, according to another local news outlet, LBC.
The Kfar Shima municipality could not be reached for comment.