In southwest France, a nine-year-old boy was left alone to fend for himself after his mother moved in with her boyfriend, leaving him in an apartment in Nersac, near Angoulême. For two years, from 2020 to 2022, the child lived in isolation, facing cold winters with little to no heating or electricity, and often without access to hot water. His mother, 39 years old, relocated just three miles away, but she made no effort to care for her son. Recently, she was sentenced to six months in prison for child neglect. The boy’s father, who lived in another town, was not held responsible.
The boy endured a life of hardship, using blankets and sleeping bags to keep warm, and washing with cold water. He survived by taking tomatoes from a neighbor’s balcony and seeking food from people around the neighborhood. His situation only came to light after concerned neighbors finally contacted the authorities, leading to the boy being placed into protective custody.
Despite the harsh conditions at home, the boy managed to maintain a façade of normalcy, attending school regularly and completing his homework. Barbara Couturier, the mayor of Nersac, mentioned that the child seemed to create a “shield” to make it appear as though everything was fine. “He gave the impression that he was managing well,” Couturier remarked. His ability to maintain good grades and keep his living space clean likely delayed others from realizing the extent of his neglect.
Neighbors initially sensed something was wrong, but when they expressed concerns to the boy’s mother, she brushed them off, insisting she was taking care of him. She also asked them to mind their own business. Since the boy seemed capable of handling things on his own, his abandonment largely went unnoticed for two years.
A classmate of the boy revealed that he spent most of his time alone, rarely going out or interacting with others. He often ate alone and took the bus by himself. During the trial, the mother’s claim that she had been living with her son was disproved using mobile data, which showed she had barely been present at the apartment.
The neighbors later expressed guilt for not recognizing the situation sooner, blaming the modern lifestyle that encourages isolation and disconnection from community ties. One local resident commented, “In the past, if a child was mistreated, a village or extended family would step in to help. It’s not the same anymore.”
Child abandonment is a pressing issue in many parts of Europe, and in some countries, the legal definition remains vague. In ten EU countries, including France, there is no clear legal definition for child abandonment, which complicates efforts to address the problem. According to research, the rate of abandoned children in institutional care is much higher in Central and Eastern Europe compared to Western Europe. In countries like Romania, Hungary, and Latvia, child abandonment rates are alarmingly high, while countries like the UK, Denmark, and Norway report far fewer cases.
Efforts to combat child abandonment include offering social assistance, daycare facilities, financial support, and counseling services for high-risk families. However, much work remains to be done to prevent situations like the one this boy endured.
