Émile case: 106 DNA samples collected in 2026, no matches found
The 106 DNA samples taken between February and April 2026 yielded no matches with the traces found on the clothing of young Émile.
Émile case: DNA investigation conducted in early 2026 yields no leads
None of the 106 DNA samples collected as part of the investigation into the death of young Émile match the genetic traces found on the boy's clothing, France Info learned on Friday 28 August from a source close to the case. The information confirms what BFMTV had also reported. The results were transmitted to the investigating judges several weeks before this public disclosure.
A sampling campaign conducted on approximately one hundred people
From February to April 2026, investigators carried out a vast operation collecting genetic samples from approximately one hundred people in connection with this case. Two DNA profiles not belonging to Émile had been identified on one of his shoes as well as on a piece of clothing, following the partial discovery of his remains. These traces have constituted one of the central leads in the investigation since their identification.
A child who went missing in July 2023
Young Émile, aged two and a half years old, disappeared on 8 July 2023 while staying with his grandparents at their secondary residence in Haut-Vernet, an isolated hamlet in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Remains of his body were found at the end of March 2024. His grandparents were then taken into custody before being released without charges.
Questions that remain unanswered
The identity of the persons from whom the two DNA profiles found on Émile's clothing originated remains unknown at this stage. The negative results from the 2026 sampling campaign do not formally rule out other potential suspects, but narrow the field of persons questioned to date. The investigating judges are continuing their investigations.
Source: France Info