102 days, and still no trace of Emile. It has already been more than three months since the 2-year-old boy disappeared in the hamlet of Haut-Vernet, where he was spending the holidays with his maternal grandparents. Since July 8, 2023, volunteers, investigators and journalists have been trying to find out what happened to this blond boy, whose disappearance shocked the whole of France. While investigations continue in this small town in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence where he was last seen, W9 prepared a new issue of his show Criminal investigations, dedicated to this affair steeped in mystery. Titled Disappearance of Emile: where is the truth?, this documentary will be broadcast on Wednesday October 18, 2023 at 9:10 p.m. Our colleagues from Gala were able to watch it beforehand. The program teams focused in particular on the little boy’s family, whose Catholic values have often raised questions. But beyond the religious aspect, it is also the attitude and personality of the grandfather that raises questions.
“He does not hesitate to reprimand in a rather violent manner, at least through words, his children, even his grandchildren”
First, there is his conduct during the searches to find his grandson. “Émile’s grandfather will sometimes be a little harsh with certain volunteers, grumbling, scolding…”, testifies a specialist. Then there is his personality considered rather severe. Philippe, fifty years old at the head of a large family of ten children – of which Marie, Emile’s mother, is the eldest – and numerous grandchildren, “is known to be someone quite temperamental, strict, sometimes described as sanguine, with a lot of authority. He does not hesitate to reprimand quite violentlyat least through words, his children, even his grandchildren.” According to another expert on the matter, “witnesses would have said that the grandfather criticized Emile’s behavior quite stronglysaying that he was tough, that he did what he wanted, that he was a bit of an unmanageable kid”. At the start of the affair, the grandfather’s attitude suggests “that he would almost be angry with Emile”. Certainly “because at that moment, he could not imagine that his grandson would not be found”, nuance the first specialist. “It is true that this attitude is a little misunderstood by the investigators on the one hand and then by the volunteers who are on site”he concludes.
Emile’s grandfather and parents react to the rumors
Indeed, in cases of disappearance, unexpected behavior can often be considered suspicious. Especially since Emile was with his grandfather a few minutes before disappearing. But for the parents of the little boy, the hypothesis of Philippe’s involvement is inconceivable. Samuel Pruvot, journalist at Christian Family – the only one in whom Marie and Colomban S. agreed to confide – gave some details about his interview with the couple in the columns of MarianneSeptember 7, 2023. “For them, it is an abomination to imply such a thing. They were hurt by the comments about the so-called angry grandfather who allegedly beat his wife and children”he explained.
For his part, Philippe V. wanted to reestablish the truth. With his wife Anne, he emerged from the silence in the columns of Christian Family in turn. “Necessarily I come across as a dominator who terrorizes everyone… This is all false, but I don’t care. The press hurts us, but the people around us are truly extraordinary! The proof that God exists is the kindness shown to us every day”he declared.