Man Charged After Prince Albert of Monaco’s Cousin Found Dead
Antoine de Massy, the 29-year-old first cousin once removed of Prince Albert II of Monaco, was found dead on October 25 in a park along Boulevard du Larvotto following a fatal fall, with a 42-year-old Ukrainian national subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to assist a person in danger.
Discovery of the Body on Boulevard du Larvotto
Family members alerted Monaco authorities on Sunday evening, October 25, after they were unable to reach the young man. Police and emergency responders located his body in a public garden situated behind the Villa Sauber, a historic villa and art museum in Monaco’s upscale Larvotto district. Investigators established that de Massy had been seen leaving a nightclub earlier that same evening, where witnesses observed him staggering and leaning on a man for support.
An autopsy later revealed that de Massy died from a fall from a height of 13 meters, falling from the square on Boulevard du Larvotto down into the green space below. Prosecutor General Stéphane Thibault confirmed the findings to Agence France-Presse, launching a formal judicial inquiry to trace the exact sequence of events leading up to the fatal drop.
Arrest and Charges Against a Local Resident
Monaco authorities arrested a 42-year-old Ukrainian national who has lived in the principality for 30 years. On Wednesday, the suspect appeared before an investigating judge and was formally charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to assist a person in danger. Prosecutor General Stéphane Thibault stated that the suspect denied the allegations during initial police questioning and declined to answer questions from the investigating judge. The court ordered the suspect remanded in custody.
The filed charges do not allege an intentional homicide. Prosecutors emphasized that all hypotheses remain open, including the possibility of a tragic accident, while the investigation continues to determine whether the charges pertain to acts that occurred at different times during the evening.
Royal Grief and Family Legacy in Monegasque Tennis
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène released an official statement through the Prince’s Palace expressing deep sorrow over the loss. The palace noted that de Massy was the grandson of Princess Antoinette, the elder sister of the late Prince Rainier III, making him the son of Christian de Massy and Cécile Gelabale.
De Massy was an enthusiastic tennis player with deep roots in the sport’s local history. Following in the footsteps of his paternal grandfather, international tennis player Alexandre-Athenase Noghès, de Massy pursued intensive training in Florida during his youth with aspirations of representing Monaco at the Olympic Games. His late aunt, Elizabeth-Ann de Massy, previously led both the Monte-Carlo Country Club and the Monegasque Tennis Federation until her death in 2020.
A memorial featuring flowers, candles, a Monaco flag, and tennis balls has since appeared near the site of the tragedy on Boulevard du Larvotto.
Ongoing Investigation and Judicial Next Steps
Authorities have entrusted the ongoing judicial inquiry to an investigating judge to untangle the actions of the suspect and the movements of the victim prior to the fall. No funeral details have been publicly released by the Prince’s Palace.
Legal proceedings remain in the preliminary investigative phase. The detained suspect is presumed innocent while prosecutors and judicial authorities continue technical investigations and witness interviews to establish the exact timeline of the incident.