France ÉMILE: Missing from Le Vernet, France - 8 July 2023 - Age 2 *Found Deceased*

Desperate hunt for French boy after he vanished while on holiday

Émile was playing in the garden of his grandparents home in the hamlet of Le Vernet in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence on Saturday afternoon when he vanished.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Race against time to find missing Emile: Desperate hunt for two-year-old French boy two days after he vanished while on holiday with his grandparents in Alpine village​

French police have undertaken an extensive hunt for a two-year-old boy who went missing over the weekend while on holiday with his grandparents.

Émile was playing in the garden of his grandparents' home in the hamlet of Le Vernet in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence on Saturday afternoon when he vanished.

The family was getting ready to leave the house they were staying in when Émile took advantage of the inattention, officials said. His grandparents came to put him in the car and found that he had gone.

The grandparents then alerted the authorities of Émile's disappearance at around 5.15pm [4.15pm BST], at which point family members, police, emergency service workers, and local villagers started the search for the boy.

Still unable to find him, the initial 5km search area for the Émile has today been extended with a helicopter, thermic camera drones, and sniffer dogs all brought in to help.

François Balique, the mayor of Le Vernet, told French television that the boy was a good walker for his age.

'It’s a small village with 20 or so houses … we see everything. He could have gone some distance and perhaps got lost or was hiding,' he said

The area around Le Vernet is surrounded by forest is popular with hikers.

Émile, who is originally from Bouches-du-Rhône near Marseille, was spotted by two people as he left his grandparents' home. However, they then said they 'lost sight of him'.

Police have so far carried out a search of all houses in the village, and have called upon anyone with any information to come forward.

Releasing a photo and description of a child to social media and broadcasters, officials said he had brown eyes, blond hair, and is 90cm (almost 3ft) tall.

They said he was wearing a yellow top, white shorts with a green pattern, and hiking shoes at the time of his disappearance.

Police have so far ruled out any suggestion that he was abducted.

'The grid is quite small given the motor skills of this young boy and the topography', David Corona, a negotiator and profiler, and former Gendarmerie told BFMTV.

Mr Corona said the child's age was 'both an advantage and a disadvantage'.

'He is two and a half years old so he won't be able to go very far on his own. The problem is that he has poor motor skills so if he falls in a place where he has trouble getting out, he is going to have trouble finding his way back.'

Laure Westphal, a psychologist and associate researcher at the Sciences Po university also told BFMTV that it was likely that Émile could have ventured further than initially expected.

'A child of this age is in search of autonomy even if he knows he is dependent on the adult. This is the age when he begins to say no', Ms Westphal said.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Praying hard for this young one.

What a gorgeous backdrop but also scary as to what and where he could be in what looks like a lot of nature and wilderness.

I will never understand anyone who sees a child of this age leaving home, etc. as it sounds like the couple did letting them out of their sight or not doing something about it. IF the couple saw him and had nothing to do with anything, then this appears to be a missing child and not an abducted one as they seem to be treating it at the moment as well.

I find it interesting the searched all village houses and this likely means our laws are different than theirs. It's possible all gave their permission I guess but I think it may be the laws. I'm not sure if I ever followed a case in France, I have done some in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

I very much hope they find this little one safe and SOON.

 

[Guess Who]

I sure wish they would quit underestimating now far a child can wander assuming they can't make it very far.

 

[Whatsnext]

I sure wish they would quit underestimating now far a child can wander assuming they can't make it very far.

I agree, so many cases where they were found far outside the search area. Hoping he will be found soon

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Little Emile "has not been found" seventy-two hours after his disappearance, the investigators still have "no clues, no information"

Emile, 2 and a half years old, has been missing since late Saturday afternoon from the hamlet of Haut-Vernet, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Three days later, despite intense searches, the child “has not been found”, announced, Tuesday, July 11, the public prosecutor of Digne-les-Bains, Rémy...

globeecho.com

Little Emile “Has Not Been Found” Seventy-Two Hours After His Disappearance, The Investigators Still Have “No Clues, No Information”​

Emile, 2 and a half years old, has been missing since late Saturday afternoon from the hamlet of Haut-Vernet, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Three days later, despite intense searches, the child “has not been found”, announced, Tuesday, July 11, the public prosecutor of Digne-les-Bains, Rémy Avon, during a press briefing. Investigators still have “no clue, no information, no element” For “understand how little Emile disappeared”To conceded the magistrate.

The investigation will move on to a second phase. “analysis and examination” of the first elements collected, said Mr. Avon. “We have to give ourselves time to be able to exploit [ces éléments] »he continued, “and maybe we will discover that we have something that can be linked to the disappearance”. The search of the premises by professionals will also continue on Wednesday.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Police give update as helicopter teams use mother’s voice recording in search – live

Airborne search teams were given a recording of Emile’s mother’s voice to play across the region on Tuesday morning

www.independent.co.uk

Missing French toddler – latest: Police give update as helicopter teams use mother’s voice recording in search​

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.

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.



So far, 500 volunteers have helped with the search for two-year-old Emile, who has been missing since Saturday.

“At this point, we don’t have any clues allowing us to follow any particular theory (on his whereabouts)”, the local prosecutor told Franceinfo Radio.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

 

[GrandmaBear]

Am I just tired (which I am) or did the article or post I read that a couple saw him disappear? I can't find mention of it any longer. It is probably me and probably right where I should be able to see it. I looked at the link, etc. and remarked on it above.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Am I just tired (which I am) or did the article or post I read that a couple saw him disappear? I can't find mention of it any longer. It is probably me and probably right where I should be able to see it. I looked at the link, etc. and remarked on it above.

From the first post:

was spotted by two people as he left his grandparents' home

Also:

Two witnesses told authorities they saw Émile walking on a downhill road not far from the family home shortly after he was reported missing.
“This is where we then lose track of him,” said Avon in a Sunday press conference.

Desperate search underway after 2-year-old boy goes missing in France - National | Globalnews.ca

The toddler, named Émile, was playing in the garden of his grandparents house in a small, mountainous village in France when he vanished.

globalnews.ca

 

[GrandmaBear]

From the first post:

Also:

Two witnesses told authorities they saw Émile walking on a downhill road not far from the family home shortly after he was reported missing.
“This is where we then lose track of him,” said Avon in a Sunday press conference.

Desperate search underway after 2-year-old boy goes missing in France - National | Globalnews.ca

The toddler, named Émile, was playing in the garden of his grandparents house in a small, mountainous village in France when he vanished.

globalnews.ca

I thought it was in the first post but looked and also read the link over. And read all the others. Clearly it is me who missed it. THANK you. This is the one thing bothering me in the little we know so far. And also that no one else in this small village seems to have seen the same or seen him.

I'd also like to know which we don't the last time anyone other than this couple or the grandparents saw him. I'd also like to know this is a biological child of their child.
He very likely is and this is very likely just him taking off but from so many cases those are the couple of things I'd like to know. What did they last all do together, what did they do on holiday, etc.

Again, I am in no way leaning towards anything wrong as there isn't any reason yet that we have been told, but where are these facts? The little but very real basic things to give a picture. Was he the only child with on vacation or does he have siblings. Was it just grandma, grandpa and Emile? Or were their others, uncles, cousins, siblings? Was it a break for the parents? Are the parents who he lives with normally? Are grandma and grandpa BOTH his BIO grandparents?

Have they employed dogs? Are there any cameras on any business or these small number of houses in this village? How long had they been there? Were they in something like a BNB or VRBO?

Had they went anywhere he'd maybe like to go back to even this young, a park, a lake, or walked with him to it previously where he even at this young age again may have went to go there or try to find it...

Sorry. Tired. And unlike some, this seems to be that the child really just wandered off. However, we know very little and I have a cynicism of course from seeing so many. And they often turn out to be not a child wandering off.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Search for toddler missing in French Alps called off

Inquiry into disappearance of boy, 2, who went missing on Saturday will shift to ‘evaluation of evidence already gathered’

www.theguardian.com

Search for toddler missing in French Alps called off​

A massive air and land search for a toddler missing for four days in a hamlet in the French Alps has been called off, with investigators saying the focus will now shift to the evaluation of evidence already gathered.

Local prosecutor Rémy Avon said in a statement on Wednesday that the massive search had not yielded any clues to solving the mystery of the boy’s disappearance, and no more search parties would be sent out.

On Tuesday, the prosecutor had warned that “medically, beyond a period of 48 hours, given the child’s young age … and the current intense heat … his life is very much at risk”.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

'Car with blood on front' found in same Alps village where two-year-old French boy Emile went missing

A car with blood traces on the front has been found in the same tiny French village where a toddler went missing four days ago.

www.lbc.co.uk

'Car with blood on front' found in same Alps village where two year old French boy Emile went missing​

A car with blood traces on the front has been found in the same tiny French village where a toddler went missing four days ago.

Officers investigating the disappearance of Emile, the missing child, have removed the car to work out if it could be linked to his disappearance.

"At the moment we don't even know if it's human blood," a source close to the investigation said.

"It might be a very old trace too, so everybody is being very cautious about the find," they told the Mail.


Meanwhile it's understood there were at least ten relatives staying at the property in the village where Emile disappeared.

A police source said: "A family reunion was taking place, with several uncles and aunts of the child, of all ages, including some minors. Émile was seen on Saturday morning, along with other children."

 

[GrandmaBear]

'Car with blood on front' found in same Alps village where two-year-old French boy Emile went missing

A car with blood traces on the front has been found in the same tiny French village where a toddler went missing four days ago.

www.lbc.co.uk

'Car with blood on front' found in same Alps village where two year old French boy Emile went missing​

A car with blood traces on the front has been found in the same tiny French village where a toddler went missing four days ago.

Officers investigating the disappearance of Emile, the missing child, have removed the car to work out if it could be linked to his disappearance.

"At the moment we don't even know if it's human blood," a source close to the investigation said.

"It might be a very old trace too, so everybody is being very cautious about the find," they told the Mail.


Meanwhile it's understood there were at least ten relatives staying at the property in the village where Emile disappeared.

A police source said: "A family reunion was taking place, with several uncles and aunts of the child, of all ages, including some minors. Émile was seen on Saturday morning, along with other children."

Well this goes back to not knowing French law. Here LE couldn't take a car in without some real reason and a warrant. If this is the case in France, well this is not a minor thing. Yet they claim to not know if it is human or recent but they must have something that allows them to take it. Is it the car of someone else they have other info on...?

And I for one am not surprised to hear this wasn't just two grandparents and a grandchild on this vacation. Now we have aunts and uncles, etc. That probably also means cousins. Were his mother and father there or does he have parents who are involved and alive?

You'd think from the early story it was just two grandparents with their grandson on a getaway and he went missing when the two were packing up to leave. It isn't sounding like that now and also sounds as if he was with other children/minors when last seen. Thoughts are coming to mind I don't like and thoughts of other cases.

It isn't sounding to me like they are leaning towards him having wandered anywhere on his own no matter the distance.

I guess we will see. Maybe.

My prayers continue for this LITTLE YOUNG HELPLESS toddler if a single soul is involved in this, he wouldn't have a chance.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Excerpt from my post before this news. I don't know why other than it is how cases seem to play out from thinking it is just one scenario or a couple of people present to finding out there are more, I just WONDERED if this vacation was just the three of them...

Again, I am in no way leaning towards anything wrong as there isn't any reason yet that we have been told, but where are these facts? The little but very real basic things to give a picture. Was he the only child with on vacation or does he have siblings. Was it just grandma, grandpa and Emile? Or were their others, uncles, cousins, siblings? Was it a break for the parents? Are the parents who he lives with normally? Are grandma and grandpa BOTH his BIO grandparents?

I'd like to know how many teenagers were in the family group. Not leaning that way or anything just wondering some things. And if all uncles, etc. were long term family members or if maybe a new bf of an aunt, etc. I also want to know why there has been NO mention of the mother or father, just the grandparents yet this was a FAMILY gathering, reunion, etc. WHERE were the parents? Are their parents or is it a mother and a bf? A father and a gf?

Maybe he did wander off alone but here we have him last seen it seems with other children.

This is changing, at least what is or was known to us is changing...

Knowing French police ways, procedures, and laws would help. I don't think we have anyone here that likely does but I am going to guess that they likely aren't that outrageous to where they can take in a car without some real cause. Or that they'd stop searches this quickly?

Praying. But betting this child is not alive.

 

[Guess Who]

It seems to be a probable case of everybody assumed that somebody else was watching which leads to nobody watching them.

 

[Mel70]

I agree, so many cases where they were found far outside the search area. Hoping he will be found soon

That is so very true.

 

[Mel70]

Excerpt from my post before this news. I don't know why other than it is how cases seem to play out from thinking it is just one scenario or a couple of people present to finding out there are more, I just WONDERED if this vacation was just the three of them...

Again, I am in no way leaning towards anything wrong as there isn't any reason yet that we have been told, but where are these facts? The little but very real basic things to give a picture. Was he the only child with on vacation or does he have siblings. Was it just grandma, grandpa and Emile? Or were their others, uncles, cousins, siblings? Was it a break for the parents? Are the parents who he lives with normally? Are grandma and grandpa BOTH his BIO grandparents?

I'd like to know how many teenagers were in the family group. Not leaning that way or anything just wondering some things. And if all uncles, etc. were long term family members or if maybe a new bf of an aunt, etc. I also want to know why there has been NO mention of the mother or father, just the grandparents yet this was a FAMILY gathering, reunion, etc. WHERE were the parents? Are their parents or is it a mother and a bf? A father and a gf?

Maybe he did wander off alone but here we have him last seen it seems with other children.

This is changing, at least what is or was known to us is changing...

Knowing French police ways, procedures, and laws would help. I don't think we have anyone here that likely does but I am going to guess that they likely aren't that outrageous to where they can take in a car without some real cause. Or that they'd stop searches this quickly?

Praying. But betting this child is not alive.

I sadly agree.

 

[GrandmaBear]

It seems to be a probable case of everybody assumed that somebody else was watching which leads to nobody watching them.

And then what? Someone in the village took him? Or you think he wandered off for real?

I'm trying to figure out that a "couple" saw this TWO year old leaving or away from where he should be and make it fit with what sounds now like the last time he was seen he was with the other children...

As far as my tired brain can recall, no mention of this couple since. And there certainly was no mention from the start that he was with other children and this vacation involved a big group of people.

And now blood on a car. IF it relates. But they had apparently cause to take it.

Something is clearly now wrong here. And I'm doubting him wandering physically off by himself.

 

[Guess Who]

And then what? Someone in the village took him? Or you think he wandered off for real?

I'm trying to figure out that a "couple" saw this TWO year old leaving or away from where he should be and make it fit with what sounds now like the last time he was seen he was with the other children...

As far as my tired brain can recall, no mention of this couple since. And there certainly was no mention from the start that he was with other children and this vacation involved a big group of people.

And now blood on a car. IF it relates. But they had apparently cause to take it.

Something is clearly now wrong here. And I'm doubting him wandering physically off by himself.

I have no idea what happened to him and possibly nobody there does either because nobody was actually watching the kids even though it appears there were many near.

I grew up in an environment where a bunch of families gathered together at events ( my dad was a Shriner and they had lots of gatherings) and there were usually a lot of us kids all playing in various groups. This same situation could have easily happened to any of us. "well last time I saw her she was playing with x ,y & z but x,y & z say she went off with a, b & c about 20 minutes ago..." Everybody assumes "somebody" is watching them, but actually nobody is.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I have no idea what happened to him and possibly nobody there does either because nobody was actually watching the kids even though it appears there were many near.

I grew up in an environment where a bunch of families gathered together at events ( my dad was a Shriner and they had lots of gatherings) and there were usually a lot of us kids all playing in various groups. This same situation could have easily happened to any of us. "well last time I saw her she was playing with x ,y & z but x,y & z say she went off with a, b & c about 20 minutes ago..." Everybody assumes "somebody" is watching them, but actually nobody is.

I grew up very much the same but no Shriner thing. It was very much the norm, not just in my family or yours imo.

I think something else is up here though or more accurately I should say I am beginning to think so. It's often the info that is missing rather than the info given that matters or bothers. I allow for this is France, not the US and I have no idea of their laws nor media, etc. I'd expect to see the parents for one with a plea for help, etc. Or even hear of a MENTION of them and their worry and heartbreak.

To go back to family or group gatherings, etc., it also would not be unusual that at such a gathering, someone brings a new bf along who may be bad news or not well known to any of them, etc. I see all sorts of possibilities here. A small village, was this their first gathering or vacation there? We went from thinking he was alone with a couple seeing him leaving (who did nothing, this is a two year old???) to now hearing nothing of that any longer but that he was last seen it seems with other children. OF note, those children's ages aren't given, they could be anywhere from a toddler to a 17 year old.

Maybe it is typical to search and then turn another way, hard to say, again, know little of French investigations and laws or police. HERE police would not be taking away and taking in someone's vehicle without real cause.

Was this car just sitting in the village or belonged to a villager or IS IT a car that was one of the family members and was at the gathering?

We don't know enough clearly but there is something up here and I am not of the opinion he took off on his own any longer. We have just seen it too many times, that's the initial story and it quickly turns into something else. Of course I don't know and am not sold 100 percent on what happened but now have some various thoughts and the hinky meter has been tripped. Not even sold on it being someone at the gathering or someone in the village, etc. but various thoughts are coming and a few cases keep popping into my head along with questions of whether it is something similar.

I pray he is found safe but I honestly don't have much hope he is alive.

While this is called a small village, in France, I think it evokes images for most of us as quaint and somewhere a bit behind the times but we have to remember things just aren't like that any more in most places, even small ones most places in this world.. I'm sure there is internet, a few probably have ring doorbells, security cams, etc. and that they drive and have cars and don't just ride around on bikes or walk paths in some stuck back in time little village.

I'm not sure what happened here but I'm doubting what his last sighting or presence was and by whom and starting to even wonder if he went missing when said. Of course we can't have what we want but I'd like to see pics of the vacation and people, like to know where the parents were and if he lives with is mom and dad and if the grandparents are both his bio grandparents and more. And where were/are his parents? Parents are typically front and center and not a word about them. This child is two and so I'd think it very likely they are alive and wouldn't they be at a family gathering?

Finally we are told the grandparents were packing up to leave and not paying attention and the child took advantage of their inattention to take off. I'd have to assume this comes from the grandparents. Was everyone packing up to leave? Had some left in any time frame of when he went missing?

The initial story isn't fitting the picture first provided which sounded like two grandparents on a vacation with one grandchild and it's nothing even close to that, it was a group.

I'm not liking the changing picture and the way this is going/evolving.