The grandparents of a French toddler who went missing nearly two years ago have been arrested on suspicion of his murder, prosecutors announced on Tuesday, March 25.
Two-year-old Émile Soleil disappeared from his grandparents’ garden in Le Haut-Vernet, a small hamlet in the French Alps, in July 2023. Nine months later, a hiker discovered his remains near the village.
The investigation into Émile’s death has now taken a dramatic turn, with four individuals, including his grandparents, taken into police custody.
Émile’s grandfather, Philippe Vedovini, and his wife—whose name was not disclosed by prosecutors—were arrested in La Bouilladisse on charges of “voluntary homicide” and “concealing a corpse,” according to a statement from the Aix-en-Provence public prosecutor.
The toddler’s disappearance deeply unsettled French society, as extensive searches failed to uncover any trace of him. His parents, who were not present when he vanished, told a Christian news outlet at the time that they were still hoping for a miracle.
The case also drew widespread media attention, particularly regarding Émile’s grandfather.
According to BFMTV, he had been questioned by police in the 1990s over allegations of violence and sexual assault at a private school. However, authorities had only considered his potential involvement as one of several explanations for the child’s tragic fate.
Earlier this month, investigators returned to Le Vernet, where forensic teams conducted extensive searches in multiple locations. The prosecutor confirmed that forensic operations remain ongoing, with further developments expected as the investigation progresses.
