A child, aged nine, was rescued after being confined in a small storage cupboard for 15 days at a residence in France. The police discovered the youngster at a home in Mérindol, Vaucluse, on May 22, where the stepfather was taken into custody.
Concerned neighbors contacted the authorities, expressing worries about the boy’s well-being. According to them, the child was frequently punished and excluded from family activities with his mother, stepfather, and three siblings.
Acting on the tip-off, law enforcement officers visited the family’s modest house in the village of Mérindol, housing around 2,000 residents, and found the child inside.
Stéphanie Aouine, the public prosecutor of Avignon, disclosed that the child was confined to a cramped room resembling a storage closet, measuring just over a square meter in size. The space lacked a mattress, containing only a basin for a toilet and some shelves. Despite the limited space, the child could stand due to the presence of shelves.
Aouine highlighted that the boy had been confined for 15 days, possibly since the beginning of May. Investigations are ongoing to assess the child’s daily routine and living conditions, including meals, outings, and school attendance. While the child was attending school, it is alleged that he was forbidden from going outside or taking showers at home.