It is a “purely automatic” mechanism, indicated the public prosecutor of Digne-les-Bains, Rémy Avon. Opened on July 9 to search for the causes of worrying disappearance, the investigation into the disappearance of little Emile, two and a half years old, in a hamlet in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, switched Monday to the preliminary investigation regime. , said the prosecution of Digne.
Rémy Avon stressed that this does not deprive investigators of any investigative tool, whether searches or seizures. “This change is absolutely transparent,” insists the magistrate.
No change
If the regime of the investigation has therefore changed, the period of eight times 24 hours authorized for the flagrante investigation having elapsed, the nature of the investigation has not changed, however, no element during this long weekend having allowed to make it evolve towards the hypothesis of a homicide or an abduction for example, underlined the prosecutor of Digne.
The opening of a judicial investigation, with referral to an investigating judge, “is a possibility of course, it is a logical prospect”, adds a source close to the investigation: “But for that you need elements allowing to consider a criminal offence, it is still too early”.
From a source close to the investigation, several “removal of doubts” were made this weekend, such as this suspicious smell detected near the hamlet, or this fire reported at altitude near a mountain hut.