Is Alex Batty’s grandfather dead or alive? Mystery surrounds the teen’s runaway family

Alex Batty has been all over the headlines since the teen, who went missing at age 11, was found in France. In 2017, he left his hometown of Manchester with his mother Melanie and grandfather David to go on a pre-arranged holiday to Marbella, Spain. However, neither his mother nor grandfather were his legal guardian; Alex was always supposed to come home to his Grandmother and legal guardian, Susan Caruana.

However, the group never returned. It is now believed that Alex spent some time in Morocco before moving to France, living in a spiritual community by the Pyrénées with his mother and grandfather. More confusion has followed since Alex was identified as the boy who went missing all those years ago. On Friday 16 December, French prosecutors said that Alex’s mother may be in Finland and - this is where it gets murky - that his grandfather has been dead for six months.

Neighbours deny claims David is dead

This claim has been rejected by neighbours in La Bastide, the French town where Alex had been living with his grandfather. David was known as Peters by locals, one of whom said he saw the older man mowing the lawn of his cottage just over a week ago. The neighbour, identified as Sebastian, told Mail Online:

Peter is not dead. I saw him a week ago, maybe ten days ago. He was mowing the grass in front of the Gite. Peter was a nice person. He was very shy.

The neighbour went on to say that Alex - who also had a fake name, Zach - had never seemed like he was being held against his will. His mother lived nearby, and both David and Alex would often go and visit her. The teen would also often stay with a French family while his mother looked for a place to stay within the spiritual community of which she was part. It is unclear when she made her alleged move to Finland.

Suspicion Alex is trying to protect his grandfather

Sebastian went on:

I don’t know why the boy told the police that his grandad had died six months ago. I think he was telling a story to the police to cover for his grandad.

A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman told The Independent:

Grandad status is unknown to us, that came from the French press conference, so not something I can confirm for you at this point.

The police are yet to get a full statement from Alex, who returned to the UK on Saturday 16 December to be reunited with his grandmother. Perhaps more light will shed on the matter when Alex gives the police more detail about his mystery six years living on the low.

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Sources used:

The Independent: Neighbours claim Alex Batty’s grandfather is alive as police admit his status is unknown

The Mirror: Alex Batty mystery deepens as French neighbours insist his grandad is not dead