Missing toddler in France since Saturday

[Neverinamonthofsundays]

Hope this little lad is found safe and well.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/french-toddler-emile-missing-latest-news-b2373637.html

The search for a missing two-year-old is “at the same point” as it was yesterday, the local prosecutor has said in an update as helicopters spent Tuesday broadcasting a recording of his mother’s voice.
Two-year-old Emile was last seen playing in the garden of a property in Le Vernet in the Alpes-de-Haute department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, with his grandparents notifying the police of his disappearance at around 5.15pm local time on Saturday.
Airborne search teams were instructed to play the recording “as loud as possible” in the hopes of finding the toddler.
However, the investigation still has “no information”, with the prosecutor urging the public to “give the gendarmes time” as investigators probe the 1,200 calls received on the dedicated case line.
“We have no clue, no information, no element that can help us understand this disappearance. We are at the same point than yesterday at the same time”, Rémy Avon, public prosecutor for Digne-les-Bains, told a press conference on Tuesday evening.
“The 30 buildings that make up the Haut-Vernet building were completely visited. 25 people were heard, 12 vehicles visited, 12 hectares raked”, Mr Avon added.

I think it said 2 miles away, a circle of thatcradios from the house would be a huge area to search, in bit surprised at all that they weren't able to find him

It's very sad, I'm assuming he wondered off and got lost but the post mortem will be interesting

Heartbreaking. May he rest in peace :(

Remains belonging to missing French boy found in the Alps https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13257177/Remains-belonging-little-French-boy-mile-Soleil-vanished-without-trace-eight-months-ago-Alps.html?ito=nativesharee_article-nativemenubutton

I don't think they'll be able to tell much from the remains unfortunately, about how he died. I think he was seen wandering off so I assume it was that, rather than something more sinister.
Poor kid. Must have been so frightening for him.

Very sad news. Although I'm glad he's been found, at least.

I'm hoping it's not the case but if you read some of the reports of this there is a definite...leaning...and there seems to be a subtle focus on the grandfather, that wasn't quite there before. Lots of specific mentions of how the child was left in the care of his grandfather, how no one else was present at the time he went missing, how their house was searched previously.

You often notice patterns and the media dropping hints before actual news breaks. Heartbreaking for the parents if that turns out to be the case.

The area he was found in previously was thoroughly searched according to the media so they are concluding another person was responsible for his death rather than a boy wondering off…so terribly sad

The area he was found in previously was thoroughly searched according to the media so they are concluding another person was responsible for his death rather than a boy wondering off…so terribly sad

Things may have changed but last time I looked at the TV here in France earlier this PM at the likes of BFM the pundits were still, in public at least, offering multiple theories and keeping options open.

Reason for that is all a bit grim but it’s down to what exactly has been found and has not been found, the nature of that particular piece of countryside and also according to some reports what was discovered was adjacent to a fairly well used footpath, so supposedly not that hard to spot.

One possibility is that the remains found were recently moved into view from outside the searched area by wildlife.

As a result the whole village and surrounds were locked down again and there’s a further search going on of the area.

What a heartbreaking update. How sad

It says on BFM the hiker picked up the skull and dropped it off at the police station. You'd think it would be more normal to leave it in situ and call the police. Maybe she thought it could be an animal head or something?

Poor Emile what a sad up-date

The news report that I read said all his teeth were there so I find it odd that anyone would pick it up and not realise it was a child's skill. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Strange. I can't see it on BFM today, but it definitely said that yesterday

That comment about the skull being handed in has been repeated elsewhere (e.g. La Depeche..), they attributed the source as Le Figaro and ATM Le Figaro are carrying this on their live feed on the story..

”La randonneuse en question se serait présentée à la gendarmerie avec le crâne, apprend ce matin Le Figaro auprès d’une source proche de l’enquête. Et de préciser que cette personne «est une habitante locale dont on ignore si elle était vraiment partie faire de la randonnée».”

Awfully sad update. So sorry for his family.

Presser by the authorities just finished, that subject came up….One thought is that the dogs’ efficiency was reduced by the high temps in the region at the time (no idea exactly why).

Fwiw it’s been announced that some items of Emile’s clothing have now been found in an area about 25 minute’s walk from the village.

Given there’s obviously not going to be a happy ending and it’s all very grim I’m not sure there’s much appetite for further updates but I’ll stick this link in anyway:

https://www.ladepeche.fr/2024/04/02/direct-disparition-demile-la-commune-de-la-bouilladisse-pleure-la-mort-dun-de-ses-enfants-le-haut-vernet-est-toujours-boucle-11864448.php

I was recently listening to a true crime podcast where the topic of sniffer dogs was discussed. Apparently they are less effective in high temperatures because the air rises straight up as it’s heated, whereas smells stay low to the ground and are easier to follow when it’s cooler.

According to Le Monde and la Depeche:

• clothing and remains have been found where the walker said she found the skull. Apparently it's in woodlands on very steep terrain and she took the bones as she couldn't get phone signal and didn't want to leave them and be unable to find them again.
• Dogs initially searched the general area but not that particular bit. The conditions in summer would also have been different with vegetation covering the area. Heat also would have made it harder for dogs to pick up the scent.
• There were signs of post mortem animal interference. Cause of death is not able to be determined but there appears to be no signs pointing towards foul play, the body was not buried.

It does seem most likely that Emile wandered off and got lost or fell off the walking track down the steep slope. But it's unlikely there will be enough evidence to know for sure. As sad as the outcome is, at least the family are out of limbo and can lay their child to rest. It will also hopefully silence a lot of the conspiracy theorists (the ones accusing the young man in the village of having run the child over, the pedophile ring kidnap theory, the revenge attack for the father's political views, ....).

https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2025/0325/1503895-emile-soleil-france/

Grandparents arrested :(

Oh no, @Neverinamonthofsundays !

So regardless of what happened, it seems likely at the very least that they knew yet allowed the search to go on. Possibly worse. How tragic.

Oh what an awful update. The poor, poor parents. 💔
Thanks for posting it, @Neverinamonthofsundays .

This is horrible beyond words. Those poor parents. Hope Emile gets justice.