A 9-Year-Old Boy Rescued After Being Kept Locked in a Van for Nearly Two Years A 9-year-old boy was rescued this week after spending nearly two years locked inside his father’s utility van in eastern France, according to local authorities. The child, who was found in a severe state of malnutrition and physical distress, was hospitalized following his discovery. His father, a 43-year-old man, was detained by police after the incident, while his partner, 37, faced charges related to failing to assist a minor in danger. The boy’s 12-year-old sister and the 10-year-old daughter of his father’s partner were placed under the care of social services. The boy was discovered on Monday in the village of Hagenbach, near the borders of Switzerland and Germany, after a neighbor reported hearing “sounds of a child” coming from a van. Police forced the van open and found the child “lying in a fetal position, naked, covered by a blanket on top of a mound of trash and near excrement,” according to a statement from Prosecutor Nicolas Heitz. The child had been in this condition for nearly two years, having been locked inside the van since November 2024. He was described as malnourished and unable to walk due to prolonged sitting. The father told investigators he had locked the child in the van to “protect him” after his partner, who was the boy’s stepmother, expressed intentions to send the child to a psychiatric hospital. The prosecutor clarified that there was no medical evidence indicating the boy had any psychiatric issues prior to his disappearance. The child had been performing well in school, with good grades, and had no prior history of behavioral problems.#father #hagenbach #partner #boy #prosecutor_nicolas_heitz
9-Year-Old Boy Rescued After Being Locked in Van for Two Years in France A 9-year-old boy was discovered locked inside his father’s utility van in eastern France after nearly two years of captivity, according to local authorities. The child, who had been malnourished and unable to walk, was found in a deteriorating condition on April 11, 2026, following a tip from a neighbor. The incident has sparked widespread shock and raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the boy’s prolonged isolation. The local prosecutor, Nicolas Heitz, confirmed that police were alerted to the situation after hearing “sounds of a child” emanating from the van in the village of Hagenbach, near the borders of Switzerland and Germany. When officers forced open the vehicle, they found the boy “lying in a fetal position, naked, covered by a blanket on top of a mound of trash and near excrement,” Heitz stated. The child’s physical state, including severe malnutrition and immobility due to prolonged sitting, prompted immediate medical intervention. The boy’s father, who was detained by authorities, reportedly locked the child in the van in November 2024 to shield him from his partner, who allegedly wanted to send the then-7-year-old to a psychiatric hospital. However, the prosecutor emphasized there was no prior medical evidence of the boy’s mental health issues, noting he had previously performed well in school. The father claimed the child had “big difficulties” with his partner and believed his father had “no choice” but to confine him. The boy reportedly stated he hadn’t showered since 2024, highlighting the extreme neglect he endured. The father faces preliminary charges of kidnapping and other offenses, while his partner, who denied knowledge of the boy’s whereabouts, was charged with failing to assist a minor in danger.#father #hagenbach #boy #nicolas_heitz #partner
Malnourished 9-Year-Old Boy Rescued After Two Years Trapped in Van in France A malnourished 9-year-old boy was discovered lying in a fetal position inside his father’s utility van in eastern France on April 11, 2026, after being locked inside the vehicle for nearly two years. The boy, who had not showered since 2024, was found by local authorities in the village of Hagenbach, near the borders of Switzerland and Germany, following reports of a child’s cries emanating from the van. Officers forced open the vehicle to uncover the boy, who was described as naked, covered in a blanket, and surrounded by trash and excrement. The boy’s father, who has been charged with kidnapping, allegedly locked his son in the van in November 2024 to protect him from his partner, who reportedly wanted to send the child to a psychiatric hospital. However, prosecutors stated there was no medical evidence to support the claim that the boy had psychiatric issues, and he had maintained good academic performance in school. When the boy disappeared, his teachers were informed he had transferred to another school, leading his family and friends to believe he was in a psychiatric facility. The boy’s 12-year-old sister and the 10-year-old daughter of the father’s partner are currently under the care of social services. The father’s partner, who denied knowledge of the boy’s confinement, has also been charged with failing to assist a minor in danger. The boy was subsequently hospitalized for treatment. Authorities noted that the boy had not eaten or showered for over a year, with his father claiming he had no choice but to lock him in the van. The child reportedly told investigators he had struggled with his father’s partner and believed his father had acted to protect him.#father #malnourished_boy #hagenbach #social_services #child_welfare
