Detectives reveal major new details while investigating death of French toddler found after nine months missing

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Detectives have shared new details surrounding the mysterious death of the French toddler who was found dead after he went missing for nine months.

Émile Soleil, aged just two, was last seen on 8 July, 2023 after visiting his grandparents' home in the village of Haut-Vernet. He was seen by two witnesses, who said they spotted him walking alone down the village's only street.

On 30 March 2024, after almost a year of turmoil for the little boy's family who were left in complete darkness over what happened to their son, a hiking in the area discovered a human skull and took it to a police station.

DNA forensics confirmed a day later that the DNA on the human remains matched with Émile's.

Earlier this week (25 March), four arrests were made, including grandparents Philippe and Anne Vedovini and two of their children, none of which were Émile's parents.

The toddler disappeared while visiting his grandparents (Police Handout)

They were detained on suspicion of 'voluntary homicide' and 'concealing a corpse'.

"This morning, Philippe Vedovini and his wife, grandparents of Émile Soleil, along with two of their adult children, were taken into custody by investigators from the Marseille gendarmerie's investigation section," a statement released by Aix-en-Provence prosecutors read.

"These police custody placements are part of a phase of verification and comparison of the evidence and information gathered during the investigations carried out in recent months.

"Investigators are also conducting forensic operations in various locations across the country."

Two days after they were detained, the 59-year-olds were released and Mr Vedovini's lawyer Isabelle Colombani told reporters that she has 'never been too worried'.

Now, in an update, prosecutor Jean-Luc Bachon told reporters that a 'third party' may have been involved when the boy went missing.

Scars on the skull were 'suggestive of violent facial trauma' after the bones were most likely moved near a river in the Alpine hamlet of Haut-Vernet when the skull was found.

The house of the grandparents of Emile Soleil (CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

A set of clothes were also discovered further away from the bones, which included a t-shirt, pants and shoes.

After the grandparents were released, Mr Vedovini's lawyer Colombani said: "After 17 hours of questioning, today, the custody has been lifted.

"It's a relief for them, and for their lawyers too. I have never been too worried. I thought we could explain everything. There were maybe some grey areas to clear up, but that's it."

Julien Pinelli, Ms Vedovini's defence barrister, added: "My client's custody has been lifted, which is naturally a huge relief. She is walking away free."

He claimed Émile's grandmother 'wanted to participate in what could naturally be seen as an ordeal, but she did so because she felt it was also her contribution to this investigation, the results of which she is now awaiting'.