Lisbon, 21 May 2026
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Two young French boys were found abandoned on a remote road in Portugal. Authorities suspect their parents left them in the forest under the pretense of a game.
Lisbon, 21 May 2026
Two French toddlers, aged three and five, were found abandoned near a village in Portugal on May 21, 2026, with authorities suspecting their parents deliberately left them.
The boys were discovered near Monte Novo do Sul, approximately 60 kilometers southeast of Lisbon, by a Portuguese couple who noticed them crying along a country road. The children told authorities their mother and stepfather had left them alone in the forest with their eyes covered.
According to the man who found them, the older child explained that their parents had left them in the forest under the pretense of a game. The children's backpacks contained a change of clothes, cookies, fruit, and water, but no identification documents.
The boys are now under the care of the child protection authority CPCJ and are being observed in a Portuguese hospital. Police in both Portugal and France are actively searching for the mother and her partner.
The public prosecutor's office in Colmar, France, has initiated an investigation into the abandonment of minors, while authorities in Lisbon are also conducting their own probe. The mother's path from France to Portugal via Spain has been traced, but there has been no contact with her since her disappearance was reported on May 11.
The father of the children, who is separated from the mother, reported their disappearance to French police. The mother, 41, and her new partner are believed to have taken the children to the forest in a car, blindfolded them, and told them to look for a toy before driving away.
Authorities emphasize that there was no missing persons report filed for the children prior to their discovery. The case has drawn international attention due to the cross-border nature of the incident and the young age of the victims.
Child welfare experts have expressed concern about the psychological impact on the boys, who were left alone in an unfamiliar environment. The presence of supplies in their backpacks suggests some preparation for their abandonment.
The investigation is complicated by the international dimensions, with French and Portuguese authorities coordinating their efforts. Police are reviewing surveillance footage and travel records to trace the parents' movements.
Local residents in Monte Novo do Sul have expressed shock at the incident, with many offering support to the children. The Portuguese couple who found the boys have been praised for their quick action in bringing them to safety.
Legal experts note that child abandonment cases often involve complex family situations and mental health factors. The involvement of multiple jurisdictions adds another layer of complexity to the investigation.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the parents' whereabouts to come forward. The children remain in protective custody while arrangements are made for their long-term care.