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
Key People
No people linked to this story
Locations
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
Two detained after French influencer's scorched body found in vineyard
Sonia Bellina's body was "abandoned" after "a murder of rare savagery", the family's lawyer says.
August 19, 2026 at 04:04 PMFamily stranded at sea for 16 hours after jet ski capsized in Thailand
A father and his two young sons spent a night adrift before being rescued off the coast of the island of Koh Samui.
August 15, 2026 at 10:56 AMIran says two French embassy employees barred from returning - Reuters
Iran says two French embassy employees barred from returning Reuters
August 17, 2026 at 09:41 AMMoment family rescued after 16 hours floating on jet ski off Thailand
A 50-year-old father and his two sons were found floating off Koh Samui island, a local official told AFP on Saturday.
August 15, 2026 at 09:29 AMFrench ambassador to CAR accused of bringing women to official residence faces disciplinary action
The accusations against Bruno Foucher prompted investigations into a potential security breach.
August 13, 2026 at 08:15 AMBritish cyclist dies in Volta a Portugal accident - Reuters
British cyclist dies in Volta a Portugal accident Reuters
August 14, 2026 at 04:53 PM