French boy, 9, rescued after months locked in father’s van, authorities say

A nine-year-old boy has been rescued in eastern France after spending months confined inside his father’s utility van, where he was found severely malnourished and unable to walk, prosecutors said.

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Police discovered the child on Monday in the village of Hagenbach after a neighbour reported hearing what sounded like a child inside a parked vehicle.

Officers forced open the van and found the boy lying naked in a fetal position beneath a blanket, surrounded by rubbish and near human waste, according to prosecutor Nicolas Heitz.

He was taken to hospital for treatment while his father was arrested.

Discovery after neighbour’s alert

Investigators believe the boy had been kept inside the vehicle since November 2024. Authorities say he was found extremely weak after spending prolonged periods seated inside the van.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the child had become so malnourished that he could no longer walk by the time police located him.

The case came to light after a neighbour reported hearing a child’s voice coming from the vehicle. The van had been parked in the village near France’s borders with Switzerland and Germany.

When officers opened it, they discovered the child in poor physical condition among piles of rubbish and excrement.

Father’s explanation questioned

During questioning, the boy’s father told investigators he had placed the child in the van “to protect him.” He said his partner had wanted the boy — who was seven at the time — to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

However, the prosecutor said there were no medical records indicating the child had any psychiatric condition before he disappeared. Officials also said he had previously performed well at school.

The boy told investigators he had struggled to get along with his father’s partner but believed his father had “no choice” but to lock him up. He also reported that he had not showered since 2024.

Charges and wider investigation

The father has been placed in custody and faces preliminary charges including kidnapping.

His partner has denied knowing the boy was being held in the van. She has been placed under judicial supervision and faces preliminary charges including failing to assist a minor in danger.

Authorities have also placed the boy’s 12-year-old sister and the 10-year-old daughter of the father’s partner in the care of social services.

Prosecutors said they are investigating whether other people may have known about the child’s confinement.

Family members and friends told investigators they believed the boy had been placed in a psychiatric institution. His teachers were informed that he had transferred to another school.

Officials have not released the identities of the child or his relatives.

Residents of Hagenbach contacted by reporters said they were shocked by the discovery and had been unaware of the boy’s situation. Prosecutors declined to comment further while the investigation continues.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 12 April 2026

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