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A malnourished 9-year-old boy was found lying in the fetal position in his father’s utility van ineastern Francethis week after allegedly being locked in the vehicle two years ago.
The boy, who was unable to walk after sitting for so long, was discovered Monday after a neighbor heard the “sounds of a child” coming from the van, local prosecutor Nicolas Heitz said Saturday.
Officers in the village of Hagenbach, near the border with Switzerland and Germany, found the boy “lying in a fetal position, naked, covered by a blanket on top of a mound of trash and near excrement” after forcing the van open, Heitz said.
The boy told authorities he hadn’t showered since 2024.
WISCONSIN COUPLE ALLEGEDLY STARVED SIX CHILDREN FOR YEARS, FORCING THEM TO EAT MOLD, BUGS AND DOG FOOD
A 9-year-old boy was rescued April 11, 2026, after living locked in his father’s utility van since 2024 in Hagenbach, France.(AP Photo)
The boy’s father was charged with kidnapping.He claimed to police that he had locked his son in the van in November 2024 to “protect” him from his partner who wanted to send him to a psychiatric hospital, according to the prosecutor.
But the prosecutor said there was no medical record of the boy havingpsychiatric problems,and he had gotten good grades in school.
Whenthe boy disappeared, his teachers were told he had transferred to another school.
The man’s partner, who denied knowing the boy was locked in the van, has also been charged, including for failure to help a minor in danger.
MICHIGAN WOMAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STARVING, TORTURING DISABLED SISTER-IN-LAW SHE LOCKED IN BASEMENT
The boys’ family and friends told police they believed the boy was in a psychiatric hospital.
A car travels past a road sign at the entrance of Hagenbach, France, where a 9-year-old boy was rescued April 11, 2026, after living locked in his father’s utility van since 2024.(AP)
The boy’s 12-year-old sister and the 10-year-old daughter of the man’s partner are under the care of social services.
The boy has been taken to a hospital.
onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.
A 9-year-old boy was rescued April 11, 2026, after living locked in his father’s utility van since 2024 in Hagenbach, France.(AP)
He told authorities he thought his father had no choice but to lock him in the van and that he’d had “big difficulties” with his father’s partner.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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