EMILE Soleil’s grandparents fiercely fell out with a priest who helped search for the missing boy before his alleged suicide.
Father Claude Gilliot, 85, was reportedly found dead at his home in France and left behind a chilling “suicide note”.
He was the priest at the local church near where two-year-old Emile vanished from his grandparents’ home in France in 2023.
The grandparents Philippe and Anne Vedovini, both 59, were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of murder, alongside Emile’s aunt and uncle.
Then, it was reported that Father Claude Gilliot had committed suicide last Saturday, just days before the arrests.
And now, it has emerged that a bitter rift had grown between the grandparents and the clergyman – who had once been very close.
Emile’s case shocked the world when the two-year-old vanished in July 2023 from his grandparents’ home where he had been staying.
Also at the house were six of Philippe and Anne’s ten children – but not Emile’s parents.
The boy’s remains, including a fractured skull, were found nine months later
Emile’s aunt and uncle were also taken into custody and charged with “intentional homicide” and “concealing a corpse”.
Father Gilliot’s reported death has cast further mystery over Emile’s tragic case, due to his fallout with Philippe and Anne.
The couple and the Roman Catholic priest were previously extremely close and at one point Philippe and Anne relied on him for spiritual guidance.
Despite this, a surprise public row between them sparked after Father Gilliot attempted to help police find the boy when he was missing.
The priest provided a picture of Emile to the media to help the desperate search for the two-year-old.
Phillipe and Gilliot hurled insults at each other as the Vedovini family swiftly boycotted the priest’s chapel.
The priest frequently expressed his distress during the difficult situation, and it has now been revealed that he reportedly died by suicide last Saturday week at his residence in Aix-en-Provence.
Father Gilliot’s reported cause of death was “a massive overdose”, according to a source close to the investigation.
This incident is especially surprising because suicides among Catholic priests are uncommon due to being considered a mortal sin equivalent to murder within the church.
The priest also apparently left behind a warning in his alleged suicide note.
It reportedly said: “Warn my sister. Tell her I love her. Tell my brother-in-law, I love them.
“Love alone matters. Proclaim the Gospel. God is good and merciful, O sweet Jesus, gentle and humble of heart.”
Father Gilliot’s sister, Claudine Vandenbroucke, slammed Emile’s family after the priests apparent death.
She said: “I’m very angry with Émile’s family, because I think it all started with them.”
POLICE RAID
After authorities conducted a search at the grandparents’ lavish farmhouse in the French village of Haut-Vernet on Tuesday, the grandparents and two of their offspring were placed under arrest.
Two of Philippe’s cars were seized, which included a navy blue Hyundai and a horse trailer.
Police also revealed on Tuesday that the family’s phones were tapped for several months in the lead-up to the raid, according to Le Parisien.
Cops revealed these four arrests – following months of investigations – were “planned”.
All four are facing charges of “intentional homicide” and “concealing a corpse”, according to a statement from Aix-en-Provence prosecutors.
The statement on Tuesday said: “This morning, Philippe Vedovini and his wife, grandparents of Émile Soleil, along with two of their adult children were taken into custody.”
“These police custody placements are part of a phase of verification and comparison of the evidence and information gathered during the investigations carried out in recent months.”
The statement added that investigators are also conducting forensic operations in various locations across the country.
Philippe’s lawyer said the grandparents were “fully cooperating” with the investigation and police hearings.
She said: “Perhaps what’s happening today isn’t what we had hoped for. Being taken into custody doesn’t mean anything.”
Anne’s lawyer said: “My client expects nothing more than the truth about this tragedy.”
It has also emerged that Philippe has a shady past, with French media reporting his association with a sex abuse scandal.
He was also arrested in 2018 for an “attack on foreigners”.
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