Missing French Toddler: Neighbours shocked by Émile's parents' reaction to his disappearance

Where has little Émile gone? Since late afternoon on Saturday July 8, the two-and-a-half-year-old boy has been nowhere to be found. A large-scale search force has been deployed in the village of Le Vernet, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region of France.

While the preliminary investigation continues on Tuesday, July 18, no theory is favored and none is ruled out. Investigators looked into little Emile's family, but no arrests have been made so far.

On Thursday, July 20, Paris Match revealed new information about Émile's family and neighbours.

A disturbing disappearance

It's been almost two weeks since two-and-a-half-year-old Émile disappeared in Haut-Vernet (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence). Unfortunately, there is still no trace of him. No fewer than 25 detectives from the national unit are currently working on this very special case.

Émile was last seen alone on Saturday, July 8, at around 5.15pm. He was seen in a street in the hamlet of 25 inhabitants, whom no longer believe in a 'happy ending' for the missing toddler. However, investigators remain convinced that an adult may have taken the child away from the village.

Read more:Missing French toddler: Police facing backlash over theory that Émile may have been taken by a bird

Neighbour's thoughts on Émile's father and grandfather

According to the Paris Match journalist, grandfather Philippe V. repeatedly remarked to his son-in-law that he was not 'strict enough' with Émile. In addition, Philippe V. was described as 'hot-tempered' by some witnesses, who added that he had been seen spanking his own children.

Still according to Paris Match, some neighbours confided that the father and grandfather 'were really nonchalant, the atmosphere was weird' especially during searches for the boy. They added:

The father smoked a pipe, and that stuck with me, as if we weren't looking for a living child.

We also learn that the parents seemed 'too calm' and 'in control of their emotions'. This, of course, contrasts with the fact that hundreds of volunteers were trying to find their son.

However, we can never know what is really going on inside their minds.

Read more:Missing French toddler: Émile's uncle in the spotlight after 'angry' encounter with journalist

This article has been translated from Oh!MyMag FR.

Sources used :

Gala: Disparition d’Émile : son père “pas assez sévère” ? Ces dures critiques au sein même de la famille…

Paris Match : Émile : retour sur la disparition mystérieuse du Haut-Vernet