Everything we know so far about Alex Batty and the 'spiritual commune' mystery
Missing British teenager Alex Batty vanished six years ago - allegedly abducted by his mum and grandfather while on holiday in Spain - before joining a spiritual commune.
He disappeared with Melanie Batty and David Batty in September 2017 and after being picked up wandering along an isolated road near Toulouse in France by a lorry driver on Wednesday, is expected to return to the UK over the weekend. The now-17-year-old's mum may be in Finland, while his grandfather died six months ago, Toulouse assistant public prosecutor Antoine Leroy said today.
Melanie did not have parental guardianship of her son. Until this week, his family back home had no idea of his whereabouts and they were frantic with worry for years. Last night Alex’s identity was confirmed and now the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is working to provide travel documents for Alex’s safe return to the UK to his legal guardian, his grandmother Susan Caruana.
Alex Batty, now 17, disappeared six years ago while on holiday (GMP)Susan said she cannot "express my relief and happiness" after he was found, and says she has spoken to her grandson on video call ahead of them being reunited in the coming days. Mr Leroy told reporters the teenager knew the life he was having with his mother "had to stop" after she announced intentions to move to the Scandinavian country. Alex, who the prosecutor said was living a "nomadic" lifestyle, took part in a "meditation ceremony" when his grandfather died.
He had gone on a family holiday to Spain on September 30, 2017 and is believed to have been abducted by his 43-year-old mother to live an "alternative" lifestyle abroad. Greater Manchester Police said he is now being "well cared for" by French authorities. The teenager was found near the French city of Toulouse on Wednesday and taken to a police station in the village of Revel by part-time lorry driver and chiropody student Fabien Accidini.
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Mr Leroy said he had been walking for four days from where he was stationed in the Pyrenees and where he was found by Mr Accidini. Addressing the whereabouts of Alex's mother and grandfather, the prosecutor said: "It is possible that the mother at this time has in fact gone to Finland as she planned.
Alex's grandmother Susan Caruana (CHRIS NEILL)"The grandfather, who has always been with his daughter and grandson, is said to have died approximately six months ago," he added. Continuing to describe how Alex had been living over the past six years, Mr Leroy said: "They would work on the ego, there was meditation work - there was no connection with the real world. They believed in reincarnation."
The prosecutor added: "When his mother indicated that she was going to leave with him to Finland, this young man understood that this had to stop. So he then decided to leave the place where he was with his mother and he went walking for four days and four nights. He was exclusively walking at night and sleeping in the day."
Speaking about Alex's condition when he was checked over by officials, Mr Leroy added: "This young man was described by the police who have seen him and by the doctors who examined him as 'tired' but overall in good health. He's said to be intelligent even though he's never been to school in this entire period."
Melanie Batty is believed to have abducted her son (PA)The prosecutor said David and Melanie had an "obsession" with solar panels, as he spoke of the "spiritual" community Alex had left behind. He continued: "He doesn't describe any kind of physical violence, without talking about emotional violence. We can't use the term 'sect' as such but he talks of a spiritual community."
French police said when they moved to a new place, the only things they would take with them were solar panels and their allotment. "They only used car-sharing, they didn't have their own vehicle," Mr Leroy said. He added: "What I'm describing is what happened in Morocco, in Spain and in France - it was always the same way of living."
In a statement issued today, Susan said: "I cannot begin to express my relief and happiness that Alex has been found safe and well. I spoke with him last night and it was so good to hear his voice and see his face again. I can't wait to see him when we're reunited. The main thing is that he's safe, after what would be an overwhelming experience for anyone, not least a child. I would ask that our family are given privacy as we welcome Alex back, so we can make this process as comforting as possible."
Alex with his mum Melanie and grandfather David (Manchester Evening News)Susan previously said she believed her daughter and former partner had run away with the boy because they wanted him to have “an alternative lifestyle”. Melanie has previously lived in a commune in Morocco with her son, reported the Guardian in 2018. “The reason I believe they have done this is because basically my lifestyle, my belief systems, are not what they agree with – just simply living day to day, how normal people do,” Susan said. “They didn’t want him to go to school, they don’t believe in mainstream school.”
Susan, who had looked after Alex for three years prior to his disappearance, had allowed him to go on a holiday with his mother and grandfather because she had been unable to take him overseas herself because of ill health. The trio stayed in the Benahavís area near Marbella and were due to return to the UK on October 8, 2017.
“They were due back in the afternoon and my husband was going to go and pick them up,” said Susan. “I got this message on Facebook and it was a YouTube video of the three of them. They all spoke on it and Melanie said the reasons why they had done what they’d done. Alex said it was a million times better being with his mum and grandad. Obviously it hurt me a bit but then my other concerns kicked in.”
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Alex was found wondering along a road in France on Wednesday (PA)Greater Manchester Police are currently working with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to provide travel documents for Alex’s safe return to the UK. Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes said: “I think I speak on behalf of the whole of Greater Manchester Police when I say we were relieved and overjoyed to receive news from the French Authorities that they believe Alex Batty had been located safe and well, more than 6 years after his disappearance. This is a huge moment for Alex, for his family and for the community in Oldham.
“Alex went missing whilst on holiday in 2017 when he was just 11 years old. On Wednesday, a member a public reported a potential sighting in the Toulouse area of France. The young man identified as Alex and was taken to a French police station.
“The young man and Alex’s Grandmother spoke on a video call last night and whilst she is content that this is indeed Alex – we obviously have further checks to do when he returns to the country. Our main priority now is to see Alex returned home to his family in the UK and our investigation team has been working around the clock with partner agencies to ensure they are fully supported.
“Alex and his family remain our focus – and we still have some work to do in establishing the full circumstances surrounding his disappearance and where he has been. I can only imagine the emotions they have experienced throughout this ordeal. I would ask that they be granted privacy as they come to terms with what has happened and as they try to find a way to move forwards with their lives together.”
Information can also be reported by calling 101 or via GMP’s website: www.gmp.police.uk. You can also make a report anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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