Audez, Charles

Born deaf at Dour, Belgium and educated at the Mons School for the Deaf. Apprenticed to the Harmignes family near Dour, working on their farm. Resentment began to build up in Audez, apparently from the many and high expectations the Harmignes had for him, including eventually marrying their deaf daughter and taking over their farm. His resentment exploded on Feb. 25, 1902, and he fatally shot the mother, then seriously wounded his fiancee. The father heard the shots and rushed into the house, only to be fatally shot in his turn. Neighbors heard the shots and reported them to the police, who began a manhunt for Audez, who had fled. Audez's body was discovered 10 days later in a woods 2 kilometers away. Audez had shot himself within a couple of days of his rampage. Marie Harmignes survived her injury, but neither she nor anyone else could explain why Audez had snapped.