British woman Alison Erb shot dead in France alongside her partner

26 February 2025 , 07:10

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British woman Alison Erb shot dead in France alongside her partner

Alison Erb relocated overseas to begin a new life, but the 49-year-old woman was discovered dead alongside Loreto Di Salvatore in their apartment in the charming village of Roppentzwiller, France

A Brit who moved to France to start a new life has been shot dead alongside her partner at their home.

The body of Alison Erb, 49, was found alongside Loreto Di Salvatore in their flat in the centre of Roppentzwiller, a pretty village in the east of the country. Her estranged husband, Olivier Erb - a serving police officer - was arrested by colleagues and will stand trial.

A restraining order was taken out against Erb, 50, who was in the process of divorcing his estranged wife when he allegedly shot her and Mr Di Salvatore. Details of the extraordinary case have only emerged, as Erb has been charged with two counts of murder.

Alison’s sister, who lives in Norfolk, said last night her death has left "a gaping hole in so many people’s lives" and Alison had finally found "true love" with Mr Di Salvatore. It is alleged Erb killed the new partner first and then murdered Alison, with whom he shared two daughters aged 26 and 15, and a 24-year-old son.

Erb, a serving police officer in a dog unit, has finally been charged although the deaths happened in May 2023. Although he was arrested at the time, he was initially released because of a lack of evidence, reports claim. 

Eight detectives conducted 150 interviews of witnesses, friends and relatives. During the investigation, it is understood officers discovered CCTV footage from a camera that Alison had installed in her home showing a hooded man in black clothing and gloves entering the flat shortly after she had departed. It is alleged Erb then murdered Mr Di Salvatore and, when Alison returned minutes later, he turned his attention to his estranged spouse. 

Alison grew up in Norfolk, where she studied nursery nursing and worked as a nanny, before moving to France in 1995 to work for a family in the Alsace region. The mum of three had been managing a nursery in Switzerland at the time of her death and Di Salvatore was building a house for them to live in, The Times reports.

Alison’s sister, who wished to remain anonymous, told a local newspaper: "I am utterly heartbroken by the loss of my sister. I have never felt more alone. I still can’t believe such a kind and beautiful soul has been stolen from the world." A spokesman for Norfolk police said that Alison’s family are “being supported by a specially trained family liaison officer."

Grace Cooper