Tragic Emile Soleil’s ‘monk’ grandfather quizzed over school abuse & had phones tapped before arrest over boy’s ‘murder’

THE grandfather of Emile Soleil has been arrested on suspicion of his murder, after shocking discoveries about his past were revealed.

Philippe Vedovini , 59, was previously questioned over alleged sexual assault and violence at a private Catholic school he worked at.

Photo of Emile, a missing two-and-a-half-year-old boy.
Emile Soleil went missing two years ago from his grandparents’ house in FranceCredit: AFP
Philippe Vedovini, Emile Soleil's grandfather, smoking a cigarette at his grandson's funeral.
Philippe Vedovini, 59, has been arrested in connection with his grandson’s deathCredit: Goff
Grandparents of missing boy in police custody at funeral.
Anne Vedovini (yellow hat) has also been arrested in connection with the caseCredit: Goff

Emile vanished two years ago while at his grandparents’ holiday home in the hamlet of Haut-Vernet in the French alps.

His remains, including a fractured skull, were found nine months later, prompting a fresh probe into his death.

Philippe was arrested in connection with Emile’s death on Tuesday, after the police raided his family home near Marseilles.

He was arrested alongside his wife Anne and two of their adult children in connection with Émile’s death.

All four are facing charges of “intentional homicide” and “concealing a corpse”, according to a statement from Aix-en-Provence prosecutors.

The statement reported that Philippe Vedovini and his wife, who are the grandparents of Émile Soleil, as well as two of their adult children were detained this morning.

These detentions were stated to be a crucial step in examining and cross-referencing the evidence and data collected during the recent investigations.

The statement mentioned ongoing forensic activities in multiple areas nationwide, in addition to the confirmed arrest of the grandparents by their lawyer, Isabelle Colombani, who declined to provide additional details. 

Emile’s parents, Marie and Colomban Soleil, are not believed to be the two adult children arrested.

It was 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. 

Fresh twist in mystery death of baby boy in brook as cops track down dad 13 years later – but hunt for mum continues

The disturbing details about Emile’s granddad’s shady past emerged last year.

Multiple French news outlets including Le Parisien and Le Canard enchaîné reported the shocking details of the sex abuse scandal.

Philippe was training to be a monk when he worked at Riaumont school in the Pas-de-Calais, in Northern France.

The Roman Catholic boarding school for troubled youngsters received multiple complaints from former pupils between 2014 and 2017.

The pupils said they had suffered sexual abuse, including rape, in the early 1990s, as well as regular physical beatings.

Philippe was implicated in the enquiry as an “assisted witness”.

In an interview with the police in April 2018, Philippe admitted to administering “somewhat harsh” physical discipline, but insisted he had never broken the law, according to a source close to the enquiry.

Eleven former colleagues ended up being indicted on various charges.

Illustration of Emile's disappearance and discovery in France, showing a map of the village and timeline.
Emile’s remains were found nine months later
Police car outside a house during an investigation.
The French police searched house of Philippe and Anne Vedovini after Emile went missing in 2023Credit: AFP
Two gendarmes standing outside a house.
Gendarme stand outside Emile’s grandparents’ house amidst the property’s searchCredit: AFP

After going missing on July 8, 2023 the police launched a major search for the two-year-old.

For days, police, soldiers, sniffer dogs, scores of volunteers, a helicopter and drones failed to find any sign of the toddler.

Nine months later, Emile’s remains were discovered by a rambler in what was a major breakthrough for the case.

The remains, including a fractured skull, were found about a 25-minute walk away from the French hamlet of Haut-Vernet where Emile was last seen.

French gendarmes guarding a road near where the remains of a missing child were found.
French cops guard the entrances to the paths and roads following the discovery of Emile’s remainsCredit: Peter Jordan
French gendarmes securing a perimeter in Le Vernet.
Gendarmes secure a perimeter around Vernet two days after Emile’s remains were foundCredit: AFP
Road sign for Le Vernet, D457, and information.
Emile was staying at his grandparents’ home in Vernet in the Alps when he vanishedCredit: Peter Jordan
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