on July 14, 1939, although 18 mg of arsenic were later discovered in his exhumed remains. Madame Blanche Rivet (née Lebeau) died on December 27, 1941, from aortitis, although her remains contained 30 mg of arsenic. The Rivets' will had named Marie Besnard as their only heir.

Pauline Bodineau, (née Lalleron) and Virginie Lalleron, cousins of Marie, had also named Marie as their only beneficiary. Pauline died aged 88 on July 1, 1945, after mistaking a bowl of lye for