François Schneider, the public prosecutor in Reims, held a press conference on Tuesday 28 May following the discovery of four abandoned children in a flat in Reims on Sunday

The four children, aged between two and six, were found alone in their home by the fire brigade on Sunday 26 May. The public prosecutor, François Schneider, gave details at the press conference.

The children’s mother had entrusted their care to a friend before going to another friend’s house for a drink. The friend called his sister to say he was leaving, and it was she who alerted the fire brigade.

When the emergency services arrived, the children, aged between two and six, were alone in a virtually empty flat that had been occupied since 19 April 2024. The children were found with dirty nappies and soiled clothes. They had turned on an electric hob in an attempt to cook.

Although the children were not malnourished and showed no signs of violence, they had been left alone for around five hours, contrary to what had initially been assumed.

The children were hospitalised for check-ups and given a ‘total incapacity to work for one month’. They have been entrusted to the child welfare authority pending possible placement in foster care.

The mother and her partner have been summoned to appear before the Reims Criminal Court and will be tried on 22 October 2024. The mother disputed the accusations and claimed that the flat was clean before she left. Her partner, who has already been implicated in cases of domestic violence, has been detained for breaching his judicial supervision order.