Overview
- The body of 11‑year‑old Théo was found on the banks of the Vilaine around 5 p.m. on Sunday with a bath towel tightened around his neck and an autopsy confirmed death by strangulation.
- A 16‑year‑old boy was arrested Monday morning and a 15‑year‑old girl presented herself to police the same day; both admitted the killing during custody and were formally charged and placed in pretrial detention on May 27.
- The pair face formal charges of murder of a minor (meurtre sur mineur) and group theft (vol en réunion) as the inquiry continues under an investigating judge.
- Prosecutors say the teenagers told police they acted to “take revenge” and to recover or steal fishing lures worth only a few dozen euros, and investigators found some of Théo’s fishing items during searches.
- Forensic work and judicial procedures are ongoing, the community and Théo’s family remain in shock, and the case raises questions about how French juvenile justice will handle serious crimes by minors given the 20‑year maximum sentence cap for offenders under 18.