Grandparents face further questions in French toddler death mystery

Philippe Vedovini has been detained with his wife, Anne, and two of their adult children since Tuesday in connection with the death of Emile Soleil, who went missing from his grandparents' remote home between Aix-en-Provence and Aubagne in July 2023.

No trace of the two-year-old was found until the end of March last year when a hiker in the mountainous area came across the skull and teeth of a child some 1.7 kilometres (one mile) from their home.

Clothing and bone fragments were later discovered in the same area.

Lawyer Isabelle Colombani, representing Philippe Vedovini, told reporters in Marseille late Tuesday that her client's initial 24-hour custody time had been extended.

He was responding to questions "so that we get closer to the truth", she added.

Anne Vedovini's lawyer, Julien Pinelli, also indicated that she would also remain in custody for further questioning.

All four suspects were detained for murder and concealment of a corpse, Aix-en-Provence prosecutor Jean-Luc Blachon said early Tuesday.

Questioning about a dozen witnesses has also begun, a source close to the investigation added.

A warrant was obtained to search the Vedovinis' house in the small village of La Bouilladisse. An all-terrain vehicle and horse box were recovered.

Philippe Vedovini is a osteopath and physiotherapist in La Bouilladisse. He and his wife are staunch Catholics and have 10 children, all of whom were home-schooled.