9-Year-Old Rescued After Being Confined in Father's Van for Over a Year in France

A 9-year-old boy was rescued from his father's utility van in Hagenbach, eastern France, after being confined since November 2024. The child was found malnourished, unable to walk, and lying naked in a fetal position atop trash and near excrement. He has been hospitalized for treatment.

The rescue occurred after a neighbor reported hearing "sounds of a child" from the van. Upon investigation, police discovered the boy in the described conditions. Prosecutor Nicolas Heitz stated that the boy's father claimed he confined the child to protect him from being sent to a psychiatric hospital by his partner. However, there are no medical records indicating the boy had psychiatric issues prior to his disappearance, and he had good grades in school.

The boy reported having significant difficulties with his father's partner and believed his father "had no choice" but to lock him up. He also stated he hadn't showered since 2024.

The father has been detained and faces preliminary charges, including kidnapping. His partner, who denies knowledge of the boy's confinement, faces preliminary charges for failing to assist a minor in danger and has been released under judicial supervision. The boy's 12-year-old sister and the 10-year-old daughter of the father's partner have been placed in the care of social services.

Authorities are investigating whether others were aware of the boy's detention. Friends and family believed the boy was in a psychiatric institution, and his teachers were informed he had transferred to a different school. The names of the victim and his relatives have not been released.