Almost nine months after the disappearance of a two-year-old in France, investigators have found the child's bones. The Aix-en-Provence public prosecutor's office announced this on Sunday. The gendarmerie was informed on Saturday that bones had been discovered near the mountain village of Le Vernet. The investigators' genetic analysis showed on Sunday that these were the bones of Émile, who had been missing since the beginning of July. The bones would now be examined further. There should be additional searches at the site of the discovery.

The case caused great horror in France. Even months after the boy's disappearance, media interest is high. Two and a half year old Émile had been on holiday with his grandparents in the southern French town when they lost sight of him towards the evening on July 8th. Two witnesses said they saw the boy running down a street. The police searched the area several times with a large contingent.

It was only on Thursday that the small town was cordoned off in order to recreate the last moments in which the boy was seen.