Search for Missing 2-year-old Boy in France Called Off
The extensive search operation involving hundreds of police, soldiers, rescue workers, and volunteers has been terminated after four days of searching for a two-and-a-half-year-old boy who disappeared from the small French village of Le Vernet.
The missing toddler, named Émile, remains unlocated, and the search across vast areas of mountainous terrain in the French Alps has yielded no clues regarding his whereabouts.
Instead of dispatching additional search teams, local prosecutor Rémy Avon announced on Wednesday that investigators would shift their focus to assessing the existing evidence.
Since Émile was reported missing on Saturday evening, over 800 individuals have participated in a coordinated search for the toddler, but their efforts have been in vain. Prior to officially calling off the search, Avon emphasized the necessity of “a period of analysis” for investigators to meticulously examine physical evidence, interview residents, and process the numerous tips received.
Le Vernet, a small town in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence prefecture, with a population of about 130 people, is characterized as a close-knit community where “everyone knows everyone.” It comprises two hamlets: Haut-Vernet and Bas-Vernet.
Émile disappeared while playing in the garden of his grandparents’ house in Haut-Vernet around 6 p.m. local time on Saturday.
“The family was preparing to leave the house for an outing. He took advantage of a brief moment of inattention to wander off,” explained François Balique, the mayor of Le Vernet. “His grandparents realized he was missing when they went to put him in the car.”
All 30 buildings in the Haut-Vernet hamlet have been thoroughly searched by investigators, 25 residents have been interviewed, and 12 vehicles have been inspected, according to authorities. A guardrail has been placed on the road leading to Haut-Vernet to prevent vehicular traffic and visitors from entering the town while the investigation continues.
On Tuesday, Avon cautioned that given the child’s young age, the passage of more than 48 hours, and the intense heatwave in the area, “medically, his life is at great risk,” as reported by AFP. Recent days have witnessed temperatures soaring above 35°C.
National police describe Émile as a blond-haired, brown-eyed child standing 90 centimeters tall. He was last seen wearing white shorts, a yellow shirt, and hiking shoes.
Two witnesses reported seeing Émile walking on a downhill road near the family home shortly after he was reported missing.
“This is where we lose track of him,” Avon stated during a Sunday press conference.
Currently, there is no evidence indicating that Émile was abducted, although Avon stated that authorities are considering all possibilities.
The rugged terrain surrounding Le Vernet is popular among hikers due to its rivers, ravines, and steep paths, but it poses significant dangers for a toddler.
Balique mentioned that the boy’s family is well-known in the area, having spent numerous vacations there over the years. He noted that Émile comes from a family of hikers and has above-average walking abilities for his age.
Balique also acknowledged that while the child may be capable of covering a considerable distance on foot, “at two and a half, you get tired quickly, so he couldn’t have gone very far.”
Émile’s parents were not present in Le Vernet when he went missing from his grandparents’ house, although other family members were there at the time, according to Avon. Émile’s parents reside in La Bouilladisse, a small town approximately 160 kilometers away from Le Vernet.
Reports of a “trace of blood” discovered on the front of a car in the town were dismissed by Avon, who clarified that analysis confirmed it to be animal blood rather than human blood.
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