The Rennes prosecutor announced that the two suspects, aged 15 and 16, admitted to strangling 11-year-old Théo on the banks of the Vilaine river.
The two teenagers were placed in custody the day after the body of Théo was discovered strangled with a cloth in a bush on Sunday. During questioning, they admitted the acts and stated they acted to recover fishing gear worth a few tens of euros.
Prosecutor Frédéric Teillet said at a press conference that the suspects' statements are not entirely consistent. They took Théo's personal belongings and fishing equipment, which were found during searches at their homes. Neither had any prior convictions.
The suspects will appear before a judge on Wednesday for possible indictment on charges of murder of a minor. This qualification remains under consideration at this stage of the investigation.