French authorities have rescued a 9-year-old boy who spent more than a year imprisoned inside his father’s van in deplorable conditions, according to prosecutor Nicolas Heitz.
The discovery occurred Monday in Hagenbach, a village in eastern France near the Swiss and German borders, after a concerned neighbor contacted police about “sounds of a child” emanating from a parked utility vehicle.
When officers broke into the van, they discovered the child “lying in a fetal position, naked, covered by a blanket on top of a mound of trash and near excrement,” Heitz stated. The severely undernourished boy had lost the ability to walk due to prolonged confinement in a seated position.
According to investigators, the father claimed he confined his son in November 2024 “to protect him” because his romantic partner wanted the then-7-year-old committed to a psychiatric facility. However, Heitz noted that medical records show no evidence of psychiatric issues, and the child had been performing well academically before his disappearance.
During questioning, the boy revealed he experienced “big difficulties” with his father’s partner and believed his father “had no choice” but to imprison him, the prosecutor reported. The child also stated he hadn’t bathed since 2024.
The father now faces preliminary kidnapping charges and remains in detention. His partner, who claims she was unaware the boy was in the van, received preliminary charges including failure to assist a minor in danger but was released under court supervision.
Social services have taken custody of the boy’s 12-year-old sister and the partner’s 10-year-old daughter.
Investigators are examining whether additional individuals knew about the boy’s confinement. Family members and friends believed the child was receiving treatment at a psychiatric facility, while school officials were told he had transferred to another institution, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Authorities have not disclosed the identities of those involved in the case.
Local residents expressed disbelief about the situation when contacted Saturday, stating they were unaware of the boy’s situation but declined to elaborate on the matter.
The prosecutor’s office has declined additional comment while the investigation continues.
