A 9-year-old boy has been successfully rescued after allegedly being kept locked inside his father’s utility van for nearly two years. The child, who local prosecutors state had been trapped in the vehicle since 2024, is currently hospitalized as authorities proceed with criminal charges against his father and his father’s partner.

A Harrowing Discovery

The rescue operation unfolded on Monday in Hagenbach, a village situated in eastern France near the borders of Switzerland and Germany. According to a Saturday statement by local prosecutor Nicolas Heitz, police were dispatched to the scene after a concerned neighbor reported hearing the “sounds of a child” emanating from the parked utility van.

Upon forcing the vehicle’s doors open, officers were met with a deeply disturbing scene. Heitz reported that the child was found “lying in a fetal position, naked, covered by a blanket on top of a mound of trash and near excrement.”

Due to being confined in a seated position for an extended period, the boy was unable to walk. He was heavily malnourished and revealed to investigators that he had not been able to shower since 2024.

The Investigation and Motive

During questioning, the boy’s father claimed the drastic measures were taken out of a misguided attempt “to protect him.” He told investigators that he placed his son, who was 7 years old at the time, into the truck in November 2024 because his partner wanted to send the child to a psychiatric hospital.

However, Prosecutor Heitz clarified that there is no medical record indicating the boy suffered from any psychiatric issues prior to his disappearance. Furthermore, school records showed that the child had been receiving good grades.

The boy corroborated some of the familial tension, telling investigators that he experienced “big difficulties” with his father’s partner. He stated he believed his father “had no choice” but to lock him away in the van.

Legal Repercussions

Following the rescue, swift legal action has been taken:

  • The Father: Has been taken into custody and handed preliminary charges, including kidnapping.

  • The Partner: Has been released under judicial supervision. She faces preliminary charges, including failure to help a minor in danger, though she denied having any knowledge that the boy was confined inside the van.

The investigation is ongoing as the child continues to receive vital medical care and support.