Four Family Members of Émile Taken into Police Custody as Part of the Investigation

Grandparents and Two Adult Children Suspected of “Voluntary Homicide” and “Concealment of a Corpse”

Four members of Émile Soleil’s family, including his maternal grandparents, were taken into police custody on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as part of the investigation into the young boy’s death. Émile disappeared in July 2023 in the hamlet of Haut-Vernet, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region. The suspects include the boy’s grandparents and two of their adult children, all under suspicion of “voluntary homicide” and “concealment of a corpse.”

Ongoing Criminal Investigations and Searches in Multiple Locations

In a statement, the Public Prosecutor of Aix-en-Provence, Jean-Luc Blanchon, clarified that these arrests are part of a phase of verification and confrontation of evidence gathered in recent months. Additionally, he announced that “criminal operations” are currently taking place in various locations, though no further details were provided. A new update on the progress of the investigation is expected once these operations are completed.

The Mystery Surrounding Émile’s Disappearance

Émile, who was two and a half years old at the time, vanished on July 8, 2023, while on vacation at his grandparents’ home. Despite several days of intensive searches, no trace of the young boy was found until late March 2024, when a passerby discovered his remains approximately 1.7 km from the hamlet. This tragic discovery reignited the investigation, which had previously yielded no clear leads.

On March 13, 2024, investigators intensified their efforts in the hamlet, seizing a suspicious planter near the chapel of Haut-Vernet. Although this evidence did not lead to a major breakthrough, it added further scrutiny to the case. While human involvement in Émile’s death is now considered highly probable, the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unknown.

The police custody of these four family members marks a crucial step in the investigation, and further clarification on this tragic case is expected after the ongoing operations conclude.