Authorities are urgently seeking 18-day-old Santiago, a prematurely born infant abducted from a neonatal ward in Aulnay-sous-Bois by his parents. Despite an abduction alert being lifted, the child’s health is critical due to his need for constant medical care. The parents were traced to Belgium, where their car was found, and five family members have been detained. Concerns about the parents’ capability to care for Santiago have emerged, heightening the urgency of the search.
As of Monday, October 21, authorities have intensified their efforts to locate Santiago, an 18-day-old premature infant who was allegedly taken by his parents from the neonatal unit of the Robert Ballanger hospital in Aulnay-sous-Bois, Seine-Saint-Denis, around 11:00 p.m. Initially, the Ministry of Justice issued an abduction alert on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, but this was revoked the following day. The Ministry later released a statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “By decision of the Bobigny public prosecutor’s office, the abduction alert is terminated. The child has not been found. The search continues“.
The health condition of the newborn remains critical. Born two months early, he requires intensive care, as highlighted by a police source who informed BFMTV: “He has been under constant medical surveillance since birth. Now outside a hospital environment, the risk to his life is significant“. It was noted that the infant is in serious danger if he goes without care for more than 12 hours.
Discovery of Parents’ Vehicle in Belgium
Reports from BFMTV suggest that the abduction alert may have been lifted due to investigators gathering sufficient information to track down Santiago. It has been indicated that the parents were located in Belgium. The couple, aged 23 and 25, had reportedly fled France shortly after the baby was taken, traveling in a vehicle that had been publicized by Belgian police. They were described as driving a dark blue Audi A4 with French license plate GR-956-ZV. Belgian authorities advised the public to refrain from intervening directly and to contact the police if spotted.
On Wednesday, October 23, the Audi was recovered in Charleroi, Belgium, as reported by Le Parisien, with a police spokesperson confirming its location around 9 a.m. (8 a.m. in France). The investigation is still active, aiming to find both Santiago and his parents, while five individuals related to the suspects, aged between 16 and 29, were detained on Tuesday, October 22.
Santiago’s Parents Under Investigation
On Thursday, October 24, Figaro reported troubling findings regarding Santiago’s parents. Police sources revealed that the couple was at risk of losing custody of their newborn son. Although a provisional placement order had not yet been enforced, authorities were strongly considering it due to the baby’s need for consistent medical care and the unstable circumstances surrounding the parents: “The prematurely born child needs permanent care, and the parents’ living conditions necessitate the infant’s placement“, explained a police source to Figaro.
It has come to light that the parents belong to the “Travelling People” community. The mother has previously faced charges related to drug offenses, while the father has been implicated in violent robbery. These revelations come at a critical juncture as law enforcement agencies actively search for the child. If anyone spots Santiago, they are urged to call 197 immediately or email [email protected] without delay.