The French judicial authorities have launched an investigation into the "suspicious" death of a resident at a retirement home in Thionville.

The public prosecutor's office in Thionville announced on Monday that it had opened an investigation into "theft resulting in death," with oversight assigned to the criminal police. This decision follows the discovery of the lifeless body of an 84-year-old nursing home resident by care staff at the Sainte-Madeleine nursing home in Thionville around 4am on Sunday.

According to Thionville public prosecutor Brice Partouche, initial observations indicate signs of forced entry through an open window, with care staff testimony suggesting that the window was not open when they last visited the room. Valuables, such as jewellery, were also missing.

"The evidence gathered so far suggests that the position of the victim's body, in a reclining position on an armchair, seems to correspond to her sleeping habits. No traces of a struggle or physical violence have yet been found, although the presence of a pillow on the victim's body may suggest possible suffocation," the prosecutor said.

In light of these findings, a criminal investigation has been launched into theft resulting in death, overseen by the interdepartmental service of the Metz criminal police. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the precise cause of death.