The family of Alison Erb, a 49-year-old British woman shot dead in France, has revealed she was inundated with death threats from her estranged husband, Olivier Erb, in the months leading up to her tragic death. Alison, a nursery manager, was found dead alongside her partner, Loreto Di Salvatore, 51, in their flat in Roppentzwiller, near the Swiss border, on May 25, 2023.
Olivier Erb, a serving police officer, has admitted “liability” for the killings and is in custody awaiting trial. Alison’s sister, who lives in Norfolk, said her sibling had described the death threats Olivier made. “I would urge her to leave,” she said. “During the last months before her death, I would ask her to come with Loreto and her daughter Lana and live with us until things settled down in France, told Daily Mail.
My understanding and impression of Alison’s and Olivier’s relationship over the years is that Olivier was a bully.” The sister, who spoke with Alison “most days,” missed a call from her the night before she was found dead. She learned of the tragedy in a call from a family member, who said: “He’s done it, he’s killed her.”
Alison and Di Salvatore were discovered in their flat above the town hall after neighbors raised the alarm about barking dogs. Firefighters entered through a balcony and found the couple, each shot three times with a small-caliber revolver found at the scene.
CCTV footage showed Alison leaving the property, followed by a masked and gloved man entering. She was shot on the stairs upon returning eight minutes later, and the killer fled via a skylight. Olivier Erb, who lived nearby and worked for a police dog unit, was indicted for murder almost two weeks later.
Despite admitting liability, under the French justice system, he awaits a judge’s decision on charges. Olivier had previously been investigated for verbal abuse in 2020 and malicious calls in 2022, both related to Alison.
At the time of the killings, he was banned from visiting her home or contacting her. Both victims had expressed concerns about him to relatives. Alison’s sister said the police failed to protect her and Di Salvatore, despite a restraining order Olivier allegedly broke multiple times. “For three years, Alison and Loreto were living in fear,” she said.
Alison grew up in Norfolk before moving to France in 1995. She married Olivier, and they had three children. Her sister described her as a “wonderful mother” with a “huge heart.” She said Alison and Di Salvatore, whom she met at a stables, shared a love for horses, dining out, travel, and music.
“Loreto was a very kind, intelligent, and humble man. All he wanted to do was love and protect my sister,” she added. The case has highlighted systemic failures in protecting victims of domestic abuse, leaving Alison’s family devastated and demanding justice.
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