Two adolescents have been interrogated by authorities following the discovery of the lifeless body of an 11-year-old boy near a river with a wet towel tied around his neck.
The unidentified boy was found deceased on the bank of the Vilaine River in Rennes, northwestern France, after a fisherman heard a child’s cries and alerted emergency services. Despite efforts by firefighters, the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.
In response to the tragic incident, French police initiated a murder investigation, leading to the arrest of a 16-year-old boy taken into custody at his residence and a 15-year-old girl who surrendered at a police station.
According to Rennes prosecutor Frederic Teillet, the two teenagers were with the victim at the scene during the incident and are currently detained on charges of murdering a minor.
Teillet clarified that the victim was 11 years old, correcting earlier reports that stated he was 12 years old.
Reports indicate that the boy’s mother was searching for him when the incident occurred as he had mentioned going fishing in the area with a friend. The incident unfolded in a wooded area beneath a bridge crossing over the Vilaine River.
The nature of the relationship between the three children remains unknown.
The investigation is now under the jurisdiction of the organized and specialized crime division.
