Santiago Retrouvé: What We Know About the Child's Condition and Parents' Arrest

The Discovery of Santiago Retrouvé

On Friday evening around 7:00 PM, Santiago was found alive in a hotel named Neutraal in Amsterdam, as stated by the Royal Prosecutor of Mons-Tournai, Vincent Macq, during a press conference held at the Mons prosecutor's office on Saturday morning. This discovery was made possible thanks to a thorough analysis of telephonic networks.

The Investigation

Authorities revealed that the parents were deprived of liberty. Vincent Macq noted, “We were called by the Bobigny prosecutor’s office (France), and we collaborated on this case.” On Tuesday, the Child Alert was activated, which is seldom used. About fifty actions were verified in this process.

The Pursuit

Belgian police tracked the movements of the parents and Santiago to a hotel in Mons via information from their French counterparts. One crucial element was the discovery of a SIM card holder in the Audi A4 used by the parents during their escape, found in Charleroi. The roaming feature was activated in the Netherlands, which confirmed the right lead.

Key Developments

Geolocation systems pinpointed the location of the parents in their hotel room in Amsterdam. Upon arrival, police discovered the parents, Santiago, the grandmother, and two other children, aged three and ten. Santiago received immediate care, while the parents were detained under an international arrest warrant, and the other children were placed with the grandmother.

Collaboration Between Authorities

Prosecutor Macq emphasized the outstanding cooperation between Belgian, French, and Dutch authorities, stating that they were seeking a child whose life was in danger. This case has been very intense.