Shortly after the Alerte enlèvement alert was activated on Friday evening, the body of a 6-year-old girl was discovered in a forest in Seine-Maritime. On Saturday, the Gendarmerie announced that the only suspect had been “located and arrested at around 6 a.m.”

A look back at events and the ongoing investigation

On Friday evening, after the Alerte enlèvement alert had been triggered, the body of Célya, a 6-year-old girl, was discovered in a Seine-Maritime wood. The main suspect, her mother’s partner, was arrested early Saturday morning. Here’s a summary of the case.

Célya was found dead late on the evening of Friday July 12, after the Alerte enlèvement had been activated. The public prosecutor in Rouen announced that the suspect, Célya’s mother’s partner, had been arrested and taken into custody. He is charged with “attempted murder of a spouse”, “abduction of a minor under 15” and “murder of a minor under 15”. The suspect may remain in police custody until Monday morning.

Célya’s mother raises the alarm

Célya’s mother alerted the gendarmes on Friday after an argument with her partner. She managed to leave the family home in Saint-Martin-de-l’If, leaving her daughter behind. The mother reported that she had been stabbed by the man, who then fled with the child. When the police arrived on the scene, they found that the man had taken the little girl, whom they considered to be in danger.

A major search operation was deployed in Seine-Maritime and neighbouring departments. Around 200 gendarmes, mobile units and several dog teams were mobilized to block the main roads.

The Alerte enlèvement and the discovery of the body

The Alerte enlèvement was triggered at around 9:30 pm on Friday evening. Information on Célya and the suspect was released, including a description of the little girl and her mother’s companion, as well as details of the vehicle used. A neighbor helped locate the vehicle. The gendarmes’ search led to the discovery of the child’s body in a wood near the vehicle.

Frédéric Teillet, the public prosecutor, described the incident as “extremely violent”. Initial findings showed “major fracturing of the child’s skull at the back of the head”. A CT scan and autopsy are scheduled for Monday. Célya’s mother, the victim of the initial violence, is currently hospitalized but out of danger. Investigations and hearings are continuing.

Suspect arrested

The suspect was arrested at around 6am on Saturday morning, close to where his car was found. He was armed with a knife, but allowed himself to be questioned without resistance. The 42-year-old, known to the law for drug offences and suffering from psychiatric problems, had never been convicted of violence. According to Célya’s mother, he had taken cocaine several times on the day of the tragedy, and his behavior resembled “a fit of madness”. The couple had been living together for two years, with no history of domestic violence.