Disappearing Emil: The chilling theory of what really happened to the 2.5-year-old boy

Last summer, 2.5-year-old Emile Soleil disappeared from his grandparents’ home in the French Alps.

He was last seen walking alone on a street in July, prompting a frantic manhunt to locate him. But after five days, police called off the “large-scale” investigation.

And then, nine months later, on March 30, a hiker fell on his skull. The bones were taken to a local police station, while his clothes were discovered scattered a few meters away.

When the toddler’s bones were found it was discovered that there was a ‘bite mark’ on his skull and now, there’s a chilling theory about what happened to him.

The wolf pack

Jean-Luc Blachon, the Aix-en-Provence prosecutor leading the criminal investigation into the toddler’s disappearance, said wild animals may have scattered his remains.

This would explain why his bones and clothing were strewn about, and could possibly account for the “small fractures” and “bite marks” on his skull.

Locals from Haut Vernet, the village where Emile lived, believe a theory that says the boy was killed in a tragic attack by a pack of wolves.

“The little one must have fallen victim to some animal. I too see only the wolf as the culprit. They say wolves are afraid of humans, but with a little boy like this, the wolf would see him as another prey,” a villager told Le Parisien.

Others reiterated that several wolves have been seen in the area, such as the president of the Vernet hunting association, Stéphane Chevrier.

“There are some wolves here, especially in the summer with the flocks of sheep. A wolf may well grab a child in the village well and run for half an hour without stopping and without shedding blood,” said mayor François Balique.

The cause of death is a mystery

However, Emil’s cause of death is not definitive and authorities are still trying to determine it.

Before his bones were discovered in the area, police crews had already thoroughly combed it.

Blachon said earlier this month: “At the moment, we cannot say if Emile’s body was already in the area searched. I cannot say that every square meter was investigated. The topography there is difficult with steep slopes making observation and excavation difficult. It was also very hot in July 2023, with temperatures over 30C in the shade. which could have affected the effectiveness of tracking dogs and infrared cameras.”