French Police Rescue 9-Year-Old Kept Locked in Utility Van Since 2024

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Paris: A 9-year-old boy has been rescued in eastern France after reportedly being locked inside his father’s utility van since 2024, in a case that has shocked local authorities. The child, found in a severely malnourished condition and unable to walk, has been hospitalised, while his father has been taken into custody.

Police were alerted earlier this week by a neighbour who reported hearing what sounded like a child inside a parked van in the village of Hagenbach, near the borders with Switzerland and Germany. When officers forced the vehicle open, they discovered the boy lying in a fetal position under a blanket, surrounded by trash and human waste.

According to Prosecutor Nicolas Heitz, the child’s physical condition suggested prolonged confinement. He had reportedly been kept in a seated position for so long that he lost the ability to walk.

The father told investigators he had confined the boy in November 2024 ‘to protect him,’ claiming his partner wanted to have the child admitted to a psychiatric institution. However, authorities said there was no prior medical record indicating the boy had any mental health issues, noting that he had previously performed well in school.

The boy told investigators he struggled with his father’s partner and believed his father ‘had no choice’ but to lock him up. He also said he had not bathed since 2024.

The father now faces preliminary charges including kidnapping and remains in custody. His partner, who denied knowing the child was in the van, has been charged with failing to assist a minor in danger and placed under judicial supervision.

The boy’s siblings — a 12-year-old sister and a 10-year-old stepsister — have been taken into care by social services.

Authorities are also investigating whether others may have been aware of the situation. Friends and family reportedly believed the boy had been placed in a psychiatric facility, while teachers had been told he had transferred schools.