The lifeless body of a child was found on Friday in the Sèvre river, the Niort prosecutor’s office announced on Friday, while Marciano, a 7-year-old autistic boy, has been missing since Sunday in the city. The identity of the victim has not been confirmed at this time. The public prosecutor, Julien Wattebled, is present on the scene and has requested the intervention of a medical examiner.
Significant search resources were deployed this week to try to find the young Marciano, whose clapper was discovered at the edge of the river, two dogs used by the investigators having also “marked” near a lock. Sunday afternoon, the child had not returned from a park near his home, where he was playing with other children in his family, according to the prosecution.