The body of an 11-year-old boy was discovered on Sunday, May 24, on the banks of the Vilaine river in Rennes, with a bath towel tied around his neck. A murder investigation has been opened and two minors aged 15 and 16 were placed in custody on Monday.
The tragedy occurred around 4:40 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. A fisherman reported hearing a child’s cries near a jetty on the Vilaine river in the Saint-Hélier district. Twenty minutes later, the boy named Théo was found motionless in the bushes, in cardio-respiratory arrest.
The Rennes prosecutor’s office stated that a wet bath towel was tied very tightly around the victim’s neck. Emergency services performed CPR without success. The parents, alerted, arrived on site and were supported by the teams present.
On Monday, May 25, a 16-year-old boy was arrested. A 15-year-old girl then turned herself in at the police station. Both were placed in custody. They match descriptions of two youths seen with the victim shortly before the incident. The investigation into the murder of a minor under 15 has been assigned to the organized and specialized crime division.