Bombshell new twist in case of little Emile: Detectives reveal horrific details of how the toddler died, a 'third party' was involved - and body did not decompose wearing the clothes it was found in

Detectives investigating the death of French toddler Emile Soleil today revealed the horrific details of how they believe the toddler died as they continue to work around the clock to solve the mystery.

Prosecutor Jean-Luc Bachon told reporters that his team was still exploring the likelihood that Emile was attacked by a 'third party' when he vanished in July 2023.

He said that scars found on the skull recovered last March were 'suggestive of violent facial trauma'.

Investigators believe that Emile's bones would have been moved shortly before they were found near a river in the Alpine hamlet of Haut-Vernet in March last year.

After months of detailed forensic work, they have now concluded that Emile's body did not decompose in the clothes they found a month later.

Experts believe the remains could have been positioned in gruesome staging, previously confidential reports revealed this week suggest.

Bachon spoke after Emile's grandparents, who were looking after him when he vanished from their holiday home, were released from custody, having been detained on suspicion of voluntary homicide and concealing a corpse this week.

The prosecutor clarified today that the line of inquiry involving the family was just 'one among others', while noting that the family trail has 'not yet been closed'.

He said that the investigation had reached a stage 'where it became necessary to confront and enlighten the people most affected' by the tragedy.

The four were arrested 'in light of the results of the expert reports', he said.

Bachon also revealed a set back in the investigation, as the blood-coated planter found near the Saint Martin chapel on Sunday 'did not contain any evidence likely to advance the investigations'.

Colonel Christophe Berthelin assured that some 15 investigators have been working every day since the July 2023 disappearance to understand what happened to the child.

More have been brought in to assist in the probe since the discovery of his remains last year.

Investigators have already carried out 287 witness interviews, combed 285 hectares of land and pulled together more than 60 expert missions to analyse the findings. 

Both spoke at a press conference today after the grandparents and two of their adult children, who were not named, were released from custody.

In France, people can be placed under arrest for questioning while police investigate. It does not mean that legal proceedings will necessarily be brought against them. 

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.

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.

The mystery deepened as it emerged yesterday that the family's Roman Catholic priest who baptised Emile before he went missing had 'taken his own life', according to reports.

Father Claude Gilliot, 85, is said to have died from a 'massive overdose' last Saturday week at his home in Aix-en-Provence, French media reports. Claims have been made that he fell out with the Vedovinis before his death.

Father Gilliot had frequently expressed his emotional angst during the saga. 

The priest was once very close to Émile's grandparents, along with two of their 10 adult children. 

The Vedovini family are all devout Roman Catholics, and at one stage relied on Father Gilliot for their spiritual guidance, including celebrating Mass and hearing Confessions.

But they fell out after Father Gilliot provided a photo of Émile to the media, in an attempt try and find the little boy.

There was a very public fallout with Émile's maternal grandfather, with insults exchanged, resulting in the family boycotting the Aix-en-Provence chapel where Father Gilliot officiated.

Speaking outside the gendarmerie after her client was released, Mr Vedovini's lawyer Isabelle Colombani said: '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 explain everything. There were maybe some grey areas to clear up, but that's it.'

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.'

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.

He 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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