9-year-old unable to walk after being locked in seated position in father's van for years.

Last week, the quiet town of Hagenbach, located on the border of Switzerland and Germany, was shaken by a shocking incident. A nine-year-old boy was rescued after spending two years trapped inside his father's utility van. The child was found malnourished, without access to a toilet, and in a very poor state.

It all started when a concerned neighbor heard what they thought were the sounds of a child coming from a nearby van. However, when they initially reported it to authorities, they were told it was just a cat. It wasn't until officers decided to take a closer look that they discovered the horrifying truth.

The child was found lying naked, in a fetal position, on top of a pile of trash and near excrement inside the van. According to prosecutor Nicolas Heitz, the child's father, 43, claimed that he had locked his son in the van in November 2024 in order to "protect" him from his partner, 37. The partner had allegedly wanted to send the child to a psychiatric hospital.

The father also revealed the terrible conditions in which he kept his son, instructing him to use plastic bottles for urination and bin bags for defecation. The child also disclosed that he had not taken a shower since the end of 2024. Upon being rescued, the child was visibly malnourished and unable to walk due to being confined in a seated position for so long.

He was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment. Heitz also mentioned that the child had no prior history of psychiatric issues and was doing well in school before his disappearance. The child later told authorities that he had "big difficulties" with his father's partner and believed that his father had no other choice but to lock him up.

The father was arrested and charged with kidnapping, while the partner denied any knowledge of the child's imprisonment. She was charged with failing to help a minor in danger, but was released under judicial supervision. The child has a 12-year-old sister who is also in the care of social services, along with the partner's 10-year-old daughter.

Friends and family of the family were under the impression that the boy was in a psychiatric institution, and his teachers were informed that he had transferred to a new school. Detectives are now investigating whether anyone else was aware of the child's confinement. Residents in the area have expressed shock and disbelief at the horrific incident.

Some claim to have heard noises coming from the van, but were told it was just a cat. One resident, Danielle, described the situation as "truly devastating" and that there are no words to describe the horror of it all. The victim and his family have not been named in order to protect their privacy.

The incident has left the community in shock, trying to make sense of what happened. As the investigation continues, we hope to get a better understanding of how this tragic situation unfolded.