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In a shocking revelation from eastern France, a 9-year-old boy has been freed after spending years confined to his father’s utility van. Local authorities have confirmed that the child has been taken to a hospital, while his father is now in police custody.
Residents in the village of Hagenbach, located near the Swiss and German borders, raised the alarm after hearing “sounds of a child” emanating from a van earlier this week. This prompted a swift response from the police, as detailed in a statement released on Saturday by prosecutor Nicolas Heitz.
Upon investigating, officers forced entry into the vehicle, uncovering a distressing scene. The boy was found curled up in a fetal position, unclothed, and covered only by a blanket amidst piles of trash and human waste. Heitz noted that the child was severely malnourished and had lost the ability to walk, having been confined to a seated position for an extended period.
During questioning, the boy’s father claimed he locked his son in the van back in November 2024. He alleged that his actions were meant to “protect him,” as his partner had intended to admit the child to a psychiatric facility when he was just 7 years old.
However, prosecutor Heitz stated that there is no medical evidence to support any psychiatric issues in the boy’s history. Furthermore, the child was reportedly performing well academically prior to his disappearance.
The boy told investigators that he had “big difficulties” with his father’s partner and thought his father “had no choice” but to lock him up, according to the prosecutor. He said he hadn’t showered since 2024.
The father was handed preliminary kidnapping and other charges and kept in custody. His partner denied knowledge that the boy was in the van, according to the prosecutor. She was handed preliminary charges, including for failure to help a minor in danger, and released under judicial supervision.
The boy’s 12-year-old sister and the 10-year-old daughter of his father’s partner were placed in the care of social services.
The prosecutor’s office is investigating whether others were aware of the boy’s detention.
Friends and family told investigators they thought the boy was in a psychiatric institution. His teachers were told he had transferred to a different school, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The authorities have not released the names of the victim or his relatives.
Hagenbach residents contacted by The Associated Press expressed shock on Saturday over the cases and said they were unaware of the boy’s whereabouts, but didn’t want to discuss details.
The prosecutor declined to comment further to AP pending further investigation.
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