Émile Case: Custody of His Relatives Extended as Investigation Focuses on the Family

Investigators continue to explore the family angle in the case of Émile Soleil’s disappearance in July 2023. On Tuesday, March 25, the boy’s maternal grandparents, along with his uncle and aunt, were taken into custody on charges of “premeditated murder” and “concealment of a corpse.” The Aix-en-Provence prosecutor’s office has announced a 24-hour extension of their custody.

In-Depth Investigations

A search was conducted at the grandparents’ home, where a SUV and a horse trailer were seized for forensic examination. Philippe Vedovini, Émile’s grandfather, was also questioned about his past involvement as an assisted witness in a case of violence at a Catholic boarding school. His lawyer, Isabelle Colombani, stated that he was fully cooperating and that the custody extension was expected given the nature of the case.

A Family Under Pressure

Anne Vedovini’s lawyer described a devastated woman, facing an investigation that reopens a deeply painful tragedy. “This family has been through other hardships, but this one is particularly difficult,” he emphasized.

The hearings, conducted without direct confrontations, aim to compare the suspects’ statements with the findings of the investigation. This new phase comes nearly a year after Émile’s skull and teeth were discovered in March 2024, 1.7 km from the hamlet of Haut-Vernet, where he had vanished.