A child, aged nine, was rescued following a 15-day confinement inside a one-meter-wide storage cupboard at a residence in France. Authorities discovered the youngster at a home in Mérindol, Vaucluse, on May 22, after a concerned individual alerted them. The stepfather was taken into custody in relation to the incident.

Neighbors revealed that the child was frequently punished and excluded from family activities alongside his mother, stepfather, and three brothers. Acting on the tip-off, police visited the family’s small house in the 2,000-resident village to locate the boy.

According to Stéphanie Aouine, the public prosecutor of Avignon, the child was found in a cramped room resembling a storage closet, lacking basic amenities such as a mattress. The space contained only a basin for a toilet and some shelves, though the child could stand despite the restricted area. It was noted that the boy had been confined for 15 days, potentially since the beginning of May.

Ms. Aouine mentioned that investigations into the child’s daily routine and living conditions, including meals, outings, and school attendance, are ongoing. Despite attending school, it is alleged that the child was not permitted to leave the house or even take a shower.