French pair held until trial after boys abandoned by road in Portugal
The couple, who allegedly left two young boys on a roadside in the south of Portugal, will remain in custody, a court rules.
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Notable Quotes
"I love you"
— Marc B , Other
"Il n'y avait aucun signalement sur des problèmes sociaux ou de comportement avec les gamins."
— Eric Straumann , Politician
"Il n'y avait aucun signalement sur des problèmes sociaux ou de comportement avec les gamins."
— Eric Straumann , Politician
"Je vous aime"
— Marc B. , Other
"Armaggedon"
— Marc B. , Other
Key People
Eric Straumann is the mayor of Colmar, France.
Marc is a French man and companion of Marine, facing charges of child abandonment.
A French individual and partner of Marine R, accused of child endangerment and abandonment.
The partner of Marine R., also accused of child abandonment and related charges.
Marc Ballagriga is the stepfather of two French children abandoned in Portugal.
Marine is a French woman accused of abandoning her children.
A French mother accused of abandoning her two young boys in Portugal.
A woman accused of abandoning her two young sons on a roadside in Portugal.
Marine Rousseau is the mother of two French children abandoned in Portugal.
Tags
All Coverage
The couple, who allegedly left two young boys on a roadside in the south of Portugal, will remain in custody, a court rules.
A Portuguese court in Setúbal has remanded in custody a 41-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man, suspected of abandoning two French children aged four and five on a roadside earlier this week. The couple faces charges of aggravated assault, endangerment, and abandonment after a two-day hearing. The children were found by a local man and are currently in foster care pending their return to France. The couple was arrested in Fátima, 170 kilometers from where the children were abandoned, and appeared detached during their court appearance. The Public Prosecutor's Office had immediately requested pretrial detention, which was confirmed by the investigating judge at the Setúbal court on Saturday.
A French woman and her partner have been placed in pretrial detention in Portugal after being accused of abandoning her two young children by the roadside.
The French mother and her companion, suspected of abandoning her two young children on a Portuguese roadside, have been placed in pretrial detention. The couple was questioned at the Setúbal court, located near where the four and five-year-old boys were found crying by the side of the road on Tuesday evening. The investigating judge ordered their detention for the crimes of endangerment and abandonment. The companion, a 55-year-old man, is also charged with aggravated assault. The couple's behavior during the proceedings appeared distant, with the man shouting 'Armaggedon' at journalists and the woman singing a melody resembling a hymn. The children have been placed in foster care before their return to France.
The couple accused of abandoning two young boys in Portugal is under further judicial questioning. The mother, 41, and her companion, 55, have been placed in pretrial detention. The mother is unknown to the justice system, but her partner has a criminal record for acts of violence. The couple's behavior during the proceedings appeared distant, with the man shouting 'Armaggedon' at journalists and the woman singing a melody resembling a hymn. The children have been placed in foster care before their return to France.
A French woman and her partner have been placed in pretrial detention in Portugal after being accused of abandoning her two young children by the roadside.
Similar Stories
Related coverage based on topic and tags
Five shot dead at residence in Georgia's Douglas, police says - Reuters
Five shot dead at residence in Georgia's Douglas, police says Reuters
October 10, 2026 at 11:21 AMRogue Anthropic AI agent gave police fake tip in unsolved murder case
Philadelphia police said the tip was "flagged as spam", but criticised the tech company for taking more than two months to detect and report the breach.
October 10, 2026 at 10:06 AMFrench policing under scrutiny as student protest injuries mount - Reuters
French policing under scrutiny as student protest injuries mount Reuters
October 10, 2026 at 06:05 AMHow the trial of murdered Australian brothers and US friend unfolded
The mother of two Australian surfers murdered in Mexico two years ago with their American friend said "accountability matters".
October 10, 2026 at 06:04 AMNord Stream trial: How German police followed the evidence - to Ukraine
After four years, a Ukrainian man is set to stand trial in Hamburg accused of sabotaging the Nord Stream pipelines.
October 10, 2026 at 04:51 AMIndia detains protesters, locks down Delhi ahead of rally against election chief - Reuters
India detains protesters, locks down Delhi ahead of rally against election chief Reuters
October 10, 2026 at 12:33 AM