Boy, 9, rescued after being 'locked in father's van for 2 years'

Oliver Trapnell
Sat, 11 Apr 2026 20:21:24 +0000

A nine-year-old boy has been rescued after being found locked in his father's utility van for two years.

Neighbours in the eastern French village of Hagenbach reported hearing "sounds of a child" coming from the vehicle on Monday.

Officers who forced entry to the van discovered the youngster in a foetal position without clothing, lying beneath a blanket atop refuse and close to human waste, according to a statement from prosecutor Nicolas Heitz issued on Saturday.

The child, who had been severely malnourished, had lost the ability to stand or move on his feet due to prolonged confinement in a sitting position.

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Hagenbach sits near France's frontiers with both Switzerland and Germany.

The father informed investigators he placed his son inside the van in November 2024, at which time the child was seven years old.

He claimed the confinement was intended as protection because his partner had sought to have the youngster admitted to a psychiatric facility.

However, prosecutor Heitz's statement revealed that no medical documentation existed to indicate the boy suffered from any mental health conditions prior to his disappearance.

The child had been performing well academically before being locked away, according to the prosecutor's office.

In his account to investigators, the youngster described experiencing "big difficulties" with the woman his father was living with, according to the prosecutor.

The child said he believed his father "had no choice" other than to confine him in the vehicle.

The boy also revealed to authorities he had not bathed or showered at any point since 2024, when his ordeal began.

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The father was detained and handed preliminary kidnapping charges.

His partner, who denied any awareness of the child's presence in the van, has been charged with failing to provide assistance to a minor in danger and with not reporting the mistreatment.

She was released under judicial supervision.

A 12-year-old sister of the victim and the partner's 10-year-old daughter have been taken into social services care.

Investigators are examining whether additional individuals had knowledge of the situation.

Family members and acquaintances believed the child was receiving psychiatric treatment, while his school was informed he had transferred elsewhere.