Who is Emile Soleil? Everything we know on search for missing French 2-year-old

Police are continuing to investigate the disappearance of French toddler Émile Soleil, despite calling off the search for him last week.

The two-year-old disappeared on 8 July from Haut-Vernet in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, where he was staying with his grandparents, sparking a search involving hundreds of people.

Police said they were calling off the search in the countryside near Haut-Vernet last Wednesday, but authorities said the investigation would continue with an analysis of all the information collected since the two-year-old's disappearance.

That will include phone records, other evidence, and any other information they consider relevant.

The French gendarmerie has released a photo and description of Émile, who is almost 3ft tall, with brown eyes, and blond hair.

He was wearing a yellow top, white shorts with a green pattern, and hiking shoes at the time of his disappearance.

Read more: French police have 'no clue' what has happened to toddler missing since Saturday (Sky, 2-min read)

When did Emile Soleil go missing?

Émile disappeared on 8 July from Haut-Vernet, a village south of Grenoble in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, where he was staying with his grandparents.

His grandparents alerted the authorities about 5.15pm local time, sparking a massive search for the missing boy.

According to reports, he was last seen by two people when he left his grandparents' home - but they said they "lost sight of him".

Police have said that at least 10 people were at a family reunion at the property where he was last seen, including several uncles and aunts and some other children.

Where in France did the police search?

After the alarm was raised, over 800 people - comprising police along with local volunteers, as well as the use of drones and sniffer dogs - scoured 97 hectares of countryside around the slopes of Haut-Vernet.

According to some reports, a recording of the toddler's mother was played from speakers in the hope he might hear it, but to no avail.

Last Wednesday police announced the search was being called off but said investigators would continue to look into Émile's disappearance by analysing all the information collected in relation to it.

Read more: France calls off search for missing toddler (AFP, 2-min read)

What is the latest development on the missing French toddler?

Officials called off the search as "no sign" of Émile had been found in the small hamlet or surrounding area.

Authorities said they are now entering a phase of the investigation where they will analyse their findings - including looking at phone records at the time of the tot's disappearance.

Remy Avon, public prosecutor of Digne-les-Baines, reportedly said: "We are now entering a second phase, that of the long time when the investigators will study the hearings, telephone records or vehicle inspections."

What has Emile Soleil’s family said about his disappearance?

Little has emerged about Émile's parents.

One report suggested that a bizarre message was left by his mother on a Facebook page dedicated to collecting "prayers for Émile", but it had not been verified as being written by her.

Former Family and Children’s Minister Ségolène Royal also claimed Émile’s father had "a very worrying profile"

She tweeted: "The mother questioned only on Tuesday? And the father, with a very worrying profile?

"So, we did not look at the theory of a problem or family revenge? A kidnapping? Why is the kidnapping alert still not triggered? How sad."

Read more: Missing French boy’s dad has ‘very worrying profile’, country’s children minister says (Evening Standard, 5-min read)

Four theories around Emile Soleil's disappearance

Various theories have been put forward around the toddler's disappearance.

The obvious suggestions include the possibility that the two-year-old has been murdered or kidnapped, though police are yet to find any evidence to support those.

Another theory is that a driver hit the two-year-old and panicked then hid his body.

It has also been suggested, according to reports, that Émile may have been hit by a combine harvester while walking through long grass.

Public prosecutor Remy Avon has said of various theories: "Nothing has been ruled out.'