Parents of two-year-old boy who went missing in France speak out for first time after human remains found

The grieving parents of the two-year-old boy who went missing in France have spoken out for the first time after his human remains were found.

Émile Soleil, who was aged two and a half, went missing last summer (July 8 2023) while staying with his grandparents in an Alpine village.

Two neighbours last saw the toddler walking alone on a street in Le Vernet, which was about 1,200 metres up in the French Alps.

Gendarmerie Nationale

The little boy was less than 3ft tall and was wearing a yellow T-shirt and white shorts when he was last seen.

A huge ground search was launched at the time, involving dozens of police officers and soldiers, sniffer dogs, a helicopter and thermal camera drones - but authorities were unfortunately unable to find him.

There had been no trace of Émile since his disappearance, with investigators making sure not to rule out any theory for the heartbreaking tragedy, including abduction and murder.

Now, months after his initial disappearance last July, French investigators have since discovered bones near where little Émile first went missing in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and are now working to determine how the boy died, a prosecutor said on Sunday (March 31).

Prosecutor Jean-Luc Blachon said: "On Saturday, the police were informed of the discovery of bones near the hamlet of Le Vernet."

Blachon went on to confirm that genetic testing on the bones showed they were Émile's remains.

Gendarmerie Nationale

While the prosecutor, at this point in time, did not give a cause of death, he did reveal that forensic investigators were continuing to analyse the bones - which were first spotted by a walker.

Émile's parents, Marie and Colomban Soleil, have since released a statement on Easter Sunday via their lawyer Jerome Triomphe.

It reads: "This heartbreaking news was feared… (They) know on this Resurrection Sunday that Émile watches over them in the light and tenderness of God.

"Marie and Colomban would like to thank all those who helped and supported them as well as the investigating judges and investigators for their work, their professionalism, their personal commitment and their humanity which were of great comfort to them, in recent months and in particular on this day… But the pain and sorrow remain."

The statement added: "The time has come for mourning, contemplation and prayer."

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.