A disturbing discovery in eastern France has left authorities investigating how a young child could allegedly be hidden away for years without detection.
According to the New York Post, police say a 9-year-old boy was found inside a van after a concerned neighbor reported hearing unusual noises coming from the vehicle parked near a home in Hagenbach, a town near the Swiss and German borders.
When officers arrived, they uncovered what prosecutors described as a deeply troubling scene.
The child was discovered naked, curled in a “fetal position” beneath a blanket, surrounded by trash and human waste, according to local prosecutor Nicolas Heitz.
Authorities said the boy appeared severely malnourished and was unable to walk.
Investigators believe the child had been confined to the van for an extended period, with prosecutors saying he had been kept seated since November 2024.
The boy has since been hospitalized.
His father was arrested at the scene and is accused of locking the child inside the vehicle for nearly two years. According to prosecutors, the man claimed he did so to “protect him,” alleging that his partner had wanted to send the boy to a psychiatric facility.
Officials said the child had no known history of psychiatric issues and had previously been a good student.
During questioning, the boy told investigators he had “big difficulties” with his father’s partner and believed his father “had no choice” but to confine him.
He also said he had not showered since 2024.
The father, whose identity has not been released, is now facing preliminary kidnapping charges along with other offenses and remains in custody.
Authorities also detained the man’s partner, who said she did not know the situation. She was later released under judicial supervision but faces preliminary charges, including failing to assist a minor in danger.
The couple’s other children have been placed into the care of social services, including a 10-year-old girl and the victim’s 12-year-old sister.
Prosecutors are now working to determine whether anyone else may have been aware of the alleged confinement.
According to officials, friends and family had been told the boy was in a psychiatric institution, while his school was informed that he had transferred elsewhere.
The investigation remains ongoing.
