A father in eastern France has been charged after allegedly locking his nine-year-old son inside a van for more than a year, in a case that has shocked the local community.
The boy was discovered on Monday in the town of Hagenbach, Alsace, after neighbors reported hearing "sounds of a child" emanating from a vehicle parked in a residential building's common area. Authorities found the child naked under a blanket, lying on a pile of garbage near human waste, severely malnourished and unable to walk due to prolonged confinement.
"The father claimed he kept the boy in the van to protect him from his partner, who allegedly wanted to place the child in psychiatric care," stated the state prosecutor.
The 43-year-old father, whose identity remains undisclosed, reportedly told investigators he had confined his son since November 2024. The family, including the boy's 12-year-old sister and 10-year-old half-sister, resided in the same apartment building.
According to reports from Le Parisien, the boy described to police how his father provided food twice daily and left water bottles, but he was forced to urinate in plastic bottles and defecate in trash bags. He stated his last shower was at the end of 2024.
Neighbors recalled the boy's sudden disappearance around that time, with the couple explaining he had been placed in care. Some admitted hearing occasional noises from the van but were told it was merely a cat. The father insisted his 37-year-old partner was unaware of the confinement.
The man now faces charges of "sequestration and arbitrary detention of a minor," along with deprivation of proper nourishment and medical attention. He remains in custody. His partner has been charged with "non-assistance to a minor in danger" and "non-denunciation of mistreatment of a minor," receiving conditional bail.
All three children have been placed in temporary care as a children's court judge determines their future.