Overview
- Roughly 100 people who were in Le Vernet at the time of the disappearance, including residents, holidaymakers and walkers, are being asked to provide saliva samples.
- The new push follows the discovery of unidentified genetic traces on the clothing Émile wore, with authorities aiming to compare those traces to local samples.
- Laboratories expect analysis to take several weeks, and any match would require extensive follow‑up because contact DNA can be transferred indirectly.
- Forensic findings have led prosecutors to assess the death as a likely homicide, citing severe blunt facial trauma and evidence the remains were moved.
- Émile’s immediate family is not part of the campaign because their DNA was collected at the start of the investigation.