The mayor of Rezé, in Loire-Atlantique, was found hanged in a room near his mayor’s office. The shocked town discovers that he had been harassed by malicious couriers. An investigation has been opened.
The city of Rezé is still in shock the day after the death of Hervé Neau, the mayor, in a room near his office. He was found hanged Friday, February 11 shortly after 6 a.m.
An investigation was opened by the Nantes prosecutor’s office and entrusted to the territorial direction of the judicial police. “The thesis of suicide is widely preferred,” said Nantes public prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul, quoted by Le Figaro. Hervé Neau left a farewell letter to his relatives to explain his gesture.
Malicious and defamatory emails
Three days before his death, the chief of staff had contacted the prosecution to report that Hervé Neau and certain members of his entourage had received malicious letters “mainly relating to his private life and which may be considered defamatory”, a said the prosecutor. The defamatory accusations relate to his private life, according to France Info.
Several hundred people had come in front of the town hall to gather on Friday evening. The emotion was palpable among the elected officials and those close to the 58-year-old mayor. A large portrait has been displayed on the facade of the town hall. Described as a “man of integrity, funny and humanist”, he was said to be “close to city officials”, according to an assistant.
Hervé Neau was serving his first term as mayor in the third city of the department.
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