Grandparents of French toddler discovered dead almost nine months after going missing have been arrested

The grandparents of a French toddler whose body was found in the Alps last year have been arrested.

Philippe and Anne Vedovini, both 59, were arrested on Tuesday, in connection with the death of two-year-old Émile Soleil.

In the summer of 2023, Émile vanished from his grandparents’ home in the French Alps. He was last seen walking alone down a street in July 2023, with a frantic hunt launched to find him. But after five days, police called time on the ‘large-scale’ search.

And then, nine months later, a hiker stumbled across his skull.

They took the bones to a local police station, with his clothes discovered scattered over a few meters.

The toddler's remains were discovered in late March 2024 (Police Handout)

In a police raid at dawn on Tuesday (25 March), authorities arrested four people.

The grandparents and two other unnamed suspects have been arrested under suspicion of 'intentional homicide' and 'concealing a corpse', a statement explains.

"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," the statement released by Aix-en-Provence prosecutors reads, as per the Daily Mail.

"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."

Lawyer Isabelle Colombani, who represents the grandparents, has confirmed the arrest to France's news agency AFP.

At the time, police launched a large-scale investigation (CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

Full timeline of Émile Soleil's disappearance

8 July 2023 - Émile vanishes

Two-year-old Émile Soleil is staying with his grandparents in the remote hamlet of Haut-Vernet in the French Alps.

On 8 July, he is seen by his maternal grandparents playing in the garden, as they host a family reunion.

He is later seen by two neighbours walking by himself on a street in La Vernet, 2km away, wearing a yellow t-shirt, white shorts and hiking shoes.

His grandparents call the police around 5.15pm when they realise he isn’t at the house.

9-13 July 2023 - Huge search launched

Police, soldiers and volunteers scour 1,200 acres searching for Émile in a huge search utilising drones and helicopters.

His mother’s voice is played ‘as loud as possible’ from speakers in aircraft over the search area.

The search officially ends on 13 July, though the investigation continues.

November 2023 - Émile’s mother makes public appeal

On what would have been Émile’s third birthday, his mother makes a public appeal.

If he is alive, she pleads for his safe return, and if not she asks for his body to be handed back for burial.

Émile's remains were found last year (NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images)

28 March 2024 - Police reconstruct last sighting of Émile

Investigators summon 17 people, including Émile’s family members, back to Haut-Vernet to reconstruct his last known movements.

30 March 2024 - Émile’s partial remains discovered

Some of Émile’s skull bones are discovered by a hiker more than 1km from Haut-Vernet.

The following day, police confirm the DNA matches Émile’s.

His parents say in a statement: “This heart-breaking news was feared, and the time has come for mourning, contemplation and prayer.”

25 March 2025 - Police make four arrests

Émile’s grandparents, as well as four other suspects are arrested under suspicion of 'intentional homicide' and 'concealing a corpse'.