Grandparents of the disappeared Émile in France again in the focus of the investigators!

Grandparents of the disappeared Émile in France again in the focus of the investigators!

Le Vernet, Frankreich - The dramatic events for the death of the two -year -old Émile from the southern French mountain village of Le Vernet continued to attract great attention. The police took the grandparents of the child and two of their children in police custody in order to check the grandfather's times. This measure was planned for a long time. In addition, a car and a horse car from the grandparents were secured. The public prosecutor will hold a press conference on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. to inform about the status of the investigation.

Émile disappeared in July 2023, while he went on vacation in his grandparents in their holiday home. On the evening of July 8th, he was reported missing after the grandparents informed that they had lost sight of the boy for a short time. Two witnesses reported that he had seen Émile as he ran down a street. Despite extensive searches by the police, which also used corpse dogs, the efforts for weeks were unsuccessful. In March 2024, however, a walker found the child's skull in a forest area.

unclear circumstances and constant investigations

The autopsy confirmed the discovery of the skull, but the cause of death initially remained unclear. Prosecutor Jean-Luc Blachon expressed that no theory, be it a fall, negligent killing or murder, could be considered more likely. Investigators also found a T-shirt, shoes and underpants from Émile near a stream. It remains unclear how long the clothing and the skull were at the site.

In the past few weeks, the investigation has gained intensity. About two weeks ago, police officers were spotted in the village to examine the church because blood teases were discovered on a flowerpot of the rectory, based on an anonymous indication. The focus of the investigation is still on the grandparents of Émile, which were arrested on suspicion of intentional killing and unauthorized removal of the body. The aunt and uncle of the child should also be involved in the investigation. The parents of Émile officially play no role in the case.

The funeral of the little Émile took place on February 8, 2025 in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, and a year after the discovery of his skull, the cause of death remains unclear. The upcoming steps of the public prosecutor could provide crucial indications of the circumstances of his disappearance and death.

For further information on the legal framework and the processes in such cases, the activity report of the Federal Justice Office can be viewed, which on the official website under bundes justzamt.de is available.