The grandparents of a little French boy found dead in the Alps were today released without charge after being arrested in connection with his alleged murder.
The custody period for Philippe and Anne Vedovini, both 59, came to an end early on Thursday morning, following 72 hours of questioning about Émile Soleil, who was two when he died.
He was staying at the Vedovinis’ isolated holiday home in the Alpine hamlet of Haut-Vernet, south of Grenoble, when he disappeared in July 2023.
Émile’s remains, including a fractured skull, were found nearby nine months later, following daily searches.
On Tuesday, the Vedovinis were arrested in dawn raids along with two of their adult children, identified as Émile’s aunt and uncle.
All faced charges of ‘intentional homicide’ and ‘concealing a corpse’, said a statement released by Aix-en-Provence prosecutors.
But at 5am on Thursday the four were released from the secure gendarmerie in Marseille where they were being held.
Isabelle Colombani, Mr Vedovini’s lawyer, said outside the gendarmerie: ‘After 17 hours of questioning, today, the custody has been lifted.
‘It’s a relief for them, and for their lawyers too. I have never been too worried. I thought we could explaine everything. There were maybe some grey areas to clear up, but that’s it.’
Emile Soleil went missing from a sleepy Alpine village in France in 2023
Grandfather Philippe Vedovini at the funeral of little Emile in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume on February 8, 2025
Anne Vedovini, 59, was arrested with her husband on Tuesday. Emile Soleil had been staying with his grandparents at the time of his disappearance
Julien Pinelli, Ms Vedovini’s defence barrister, said: ‘My client’s custody has been lifted, which is naturally a huge relief. She is walking away free.’
He said Émile’s grandmother ‘wanted to participate in what could naturally be seen as an ordeal, but she did so because she felt it was also her contribution to this investigation, the results of which she is now awaiting.’
There was no immediate statement from Aix-en-Provence prosecutors, or judicial police, who are in charge of the investigation.
They could initially hold the four family members for a maximum of 72 hours, but can renew the custody period at any time in the future, as the investigation continues.
Enquiry sources have confirmed that the Vedovinis, who were looking after Émile when he went missing, were arrested following months of police wire taps.
Conversations between them and other family members were all secretly listened to, while enquiries were conducted around their lives.
At the time of Émile’s disappearance, Mr Vedovini admitted ‘fifteen minutes of inattention.’
Father Gilliot (pictured, undated) is believed to have taken his own life last Saturday
The search for the child finally ended when Emile’s bones were found in March 2024 by a rambler.
A witness saw Mr Vedovini, a physiotherapist-osteopath, cutting wood outside his house around the time Émile is thought to have wandered off from the property in Haut-Vernet.
Mr Vedovini is also under investigation in connection with an entirely different case relating to sex abuse at a Roman Catholic School in the 1990s.
Mr Vedovini was training to be a monk when he worked at Riaumont, a Catholic community that includes a boarding school for troubled youngsters in Northern France.
Mr Vedovini, who was known as Brother Philippe at the time, denies any wrongdoing.
Mr Vedovini gave up his vocation to become a monk, in order to marry his wife, Anne Vedovini.
Both remain devout Roman Catholics who brought up 10 children, including Émile’s mother, who is now known by her married name of Marie Soleil.
Her husband is Colomban Soleil, 27, who is Émile’s father.
Emile’s parents have not been arrested in relation to the current murder enquiry.
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