As part of the investigation into the disappearance of young Émile, whose first bones were found on the Pascal weekend, an expert explains why the discovery of the hiker and her actions could have a considerable impact on the reliability of the investigations. follow.
More than a hundred soldiers have been deployed in the hamlet of Haut-Vernet (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) and its surroundings since the discovery of bones on a hiking trail on Saturday March 30. That day, a hiker whose identity remains secret to this day, bent down to pick up these human remains which she immediately transported to the nearest gendarmerie, undoubtedly aware of holding a crucial element in the progress of the investigation concerning the disappearance of young Émileopened shortly after the report of his grandparents on July 8, 2023. Quickly, the first analyzes then confirmed that it was indeed the boy’s skulltwo and a half years old when he disappeared.
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If it puts an end to an unbearable wait for Émile’s family, this gesture calls out to local residents. Indeed, the inhabitants of the commune of Vernet are wondering about its consequences. “It’s totally crazy”estimates one of them, questioned by Provence. “She brought the skull back to the gendarmerie! But who does that?”he asked out loud to our colleagues, while another understands that the hiker did not belong to their community. “She didn’t take the hiking trail in the logical direction that the locals know. So that’s why I think she doesn’t come from Vernet”declared this one for his part.
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Hypotheses more difficult to establish and exploit
For some people, “the fact that the skull was affected had no impact on the expertise”. On the other hand, the hiker’s intention could have an impact on the continuation of the investigations. This is what the director of the Criminal Research Institute of the National Gendarmerie (IRCGN) believes, which made it possible to determine that the bones and clothing discovered nearby, on this famous difficult-to-access path, were indeed well those of Émile. “The fact that the bones were moved makes the exact location of the discovery less precise”said François Heulard during an interview with Figaro and published on April 3.
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According to him, “the hypotheses that will emerge” will be like this “less reliable”while investigators remain mobilized in the area which has been completely cordoned off, after the mayor of Vernet François Balique – resigned – published a new decree prohibiting access to his town to strangers to protect his citizens from media pressure. “Especially since the topography of the scene, in the affair of little Émile, is particularly difficult”added François Heulard, speaking of a “very steep terrain, with rocks, brambles, and dense vegetation” which several journalists surveyed to try to determine whether the little boy had, on his own, been able to venture there. The latter have just delivered their conclusions!
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The causes of Émile’s death unexplained
The last official information relating to the progress of the investigation dates back to Tuesday April 2: the public prosecutor of Aix-en-Provence then confirmed the identity of Émile based on the first analyzes of the bones. But he did not wish to go further into the causes of his death which remained, and therefore remain, “unexplained” nowadays. If he had revealed that the skeleton had “bite marks” which are “probably” of animal origin, “enter here child’s fallL’manslaughter and the murderwe still cannot favor one hypothesis over another”he emphasized.
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Émile’s parents, for their part, have remained silent after having spoken only once since the macabre discovery, asking that investigators be allowed to do their work and that everyone pray in memory of their child.
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