Missing French toddler: Mysterious call for help was heard two months before Emile disappeared

Updated on September 8, 2023 at 11:50 AM

Two months ago, to the day, little Emile went missing. The search for the boy continues.

Someone called for help two months before little Emile disappeared, but was never found

It was already two months ago. On the afternoon of Saturday 8 July 2023, 2-year-old Emile escaped his grandparents' surveillance and disappeared in the village of Haut-Vernet, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region.

Discover our latest podcast

An investigation at a standstill

Two months after the disappearance of the little boy, the investigation continues. Local residents have been questioned several times, theories have been put forward and tongues have been wagged. Unfortunately, the information gathered is still not enough to find Emile. Some of the neighbours are contradicting each other's stories, adding even more confusion to the case.

What if Haut-Vernet really is a cursed village? This Thursday 7 September, Nice-Matin revealed in its columns that another tragedy took place just two months before the disappearance of little Emile. Another disappearance may have taken place in the village.

Another disappearance?

The 'Tour du Vernet' was held on 7 May 2023. A three-day trail through Haut-Vernet. On that day, a witness clearly heard someone shouting 'Help, help!'. The alarm was raised. The gendarmes and fire brigade were called in, but the person could not be found. It's a story that François Balique, the village mayor, remembers very well:

I followed it very closely. The gendarmerie went there straight away, but they found nothing at the scene, no victim, despite the search.

At the end of August, after a silence that was strongly criticised, Emile's parents broke their silence in the columns of Famille Chrétienne and said they still had hope: