Warning: This article contains content which some readers may find distressing
Last summer, two-year-old Émile Soleil vanished from his grandparents’ home in the French Alps.
He was last seen walking alone down a street in July, 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 on 30 March. They took the bones to a local police station, with his clothes discovered scattered over a few meters.
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When the toddler’s bones were found, it was discovered there was a ‘bite mark’ in his skull and now, there’s a chilling theory about what happened to him.
Jean-Luc Blachon, Aix-en-Provence prosecutor who is leading the criminal investigation into the little lad’s disappearance, said wild animals may have dispersed his remains.
That would explain why his bones and clothes were scattered around and could possibly be responsible for ‘small fractures’ and ‘bite marks’ on his skull.
Locals from Haut Vernet, the village where Émile was staying, believe a theory that the boy was killed in a tragic attack by a wolf pack.
One resident told Le Parisien: “The little one must have been the victim of an animal. And I only see the wolf as the culprit. They say wolves are afraid of people, but with a little boy like that, a big boy, the wolf would have seen him as another prey.”
Others echoed that several wolves have been seen in the area as president of the Vernet hunters’ association, Stéphane Chevrier, told Le Figaro: “Our department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is one of the largest recorded wolf populations.”
Mayor François Balique has also commented on a possible wolf attack being responsible for the toddler’s death as he said: “There are some wolves here, especially in the summer with the sheep flocks. A wolf can very well grab a child at the village well and run for half an hour without stopping and without shedding blood.”
However, Émile’s cause of death is not conclusive and authorities are still woking to determine it.
Before his bones were discovered in the area, police crews had already thoroughly combed it.
Blachon said earlier this month: “At this time, we cannot say whether Émile’s body was already in the searched area. I cannot say that every square metre was searched.
“The topography there is difficult with steep slopes making observation and excavation difficult. It was also very hot in July 2023, with temperatures of more than 30C in the shade. which could have affected the effectiveness of the tracking dogs and infrared cameras."
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.
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.”
His cause of death remains a mystery.
Topics: World News, News
Jess Battison