French Police Rescue Malnourished 9-Year-Old Locked In Father's Van Since 2024

A 9-year-old boy was rescued after being locked in his father's utility van in the village of Hagenbach.

“A 9-year-old was found locked in a van since 2024, malnourished and unable to walk A 9-year-old was found locked in a van since 2024, malnourished and unable to walk PARIS (AP) — A 9-year-old boy has been rescued after living locked in his father’s utility van in eastern France since 2024, according to the local prosecutor”

Associated Press

Police were alerted by a neighbor to sounds of a child coming from the van.

Associated Press

Officers found the boy lying in a fetal position, naked, covered by a blanket on top of a mound of trash and near excrement.

The child was clearly malnourished and could no longer walk.

The boy told investigators he had big difficulties with his father's partner and thought his father had no choice but to lock him up.

He said he hadn't showered since 2024.

The father was handed preliminary kidnapping and other charges and kept in custody.

The boy's father told investigators he put the child in the van to protect him.

His partner wanted to send the then 7-year-old to a psychiatric hospital.

Balkanweb

There was no medical record that the boy had any psychiatric problems before he disappeared.

He had had good grades in school.

Friends and family thought the boy was in a psychiatric institution.

His teachers were told he had transferred to a different school.

The deception kept the child hidden for well over a year.

The father was detained on preliminary kidnapping and other charges.

“PARIS, April 11 (Bernama-dpa) -- French police have arrested a 43-year-old man accused of confining his nine-year-old son inside a delivery van for more than a year, prosecutors said on Friday, reported German Press Agency (dpa)”

Bernama

His partner was charged with failure to help a minor in danger.

The boy's sister and the partner's daughter were placed in the care of social services.

The prosecutor's office is investigating whether others were aware of the boy's detention.

Residents of the village expressed shock.

Some neighbors heard noises but were told it was a cat.

The authorities have not released the names of the victim or relatives.