PARIS: French police have arrested the grandparents of Émile Soleil, a toddler who vanished nearly two years ago.
Émile, just two years old, disappeared from his grandparents’ garden in Le Haut-Vernet in July 2023.
His remains were discovered nine months later by a hiker near the village, leading to renewed investigations.
Authorities have taken four people into custody, including Émile’s grandparents and two of their adult children.
Prosecutors accused the grandfather, Philippe Vedovini, and his wife of homicide and concealing a corpse.
Ongoing Investigation
French gendarmes secured the grandparents’ home as forensic teams searched multiple locations for further evidence.
Émile’s disappearance sparked a nationwide search, with his parents absent at the time of his vanishing.
His family had expressed hope for a miracle, despite months of searches yielding no results.
The grandfather was previously questioned over alleged violence in a private school in the 1990s.
Investigators had considered multiple possibilities before making the arrests, but new findings changed the case.
Legal Proceedings
Earlier this month, forensic teams returned to Le Vernet, focusing on several locations for potential evidence.
Authorities continue gathering information and examining the circumstances of Émile’s tragic fate.
Prosecutors stated that Émile’s grandparents face severe charges, though further details remain undisclosed.
The case remains a high priority as officials work to uncover the truth behind the toddler’s death.
More arrests or charges may follow as the investigation progresses.
