The brother-in-law of a man missing in France along with his wife and two children has admitted killing them, a report says.

The suspect, who has not been named, confessed to taking their lives following a row over an inheritance, according to the AFP agency, citing a source close to the investigation.

Pascal Troadec and his wife Brigitte, both 49, their 21-year-old son Sebastien and 18-year-old daughter Charlotte, who all live together in Nantes, went missing on 16 February in a case which has gripped the country.

Image: The family have been missing from their Nantes home since mid-February

The man who allegedly killed them is married to Mr Troadec's sister.

Both were taken into custody on Sunday after being detained in the city of Brest, around 180 miles from Nantes.


The couple had already been questioned on the mysterious disappearance of the family at the start of the inquiry.

Police searching the Troadec's home found Sebastien's mobile phone and his mother's watch covered with blood.

Image: Police take away the car of Sebastien Troadec, one of the four missing people

Officers also discovered traces of Sebastien's and his parents' blood, but not Charlotte's. They said there had been signs of attempts to clean it up.

Investigators have also found Sebastien's car, while a jogger discovered items belonging to Charlotte in a forested area three hours from where she was last seen.