Body of Missing 5-Year-Old Belgian Boy Likely Found Near Football Club; Father Still Missing

Belgian authorities have likely found the body of a 5-year-old boy who had been missing since late June, in a wooded area just two kilometers from a local football club. The discovery brings a tragic turn to a case that has gripped the small community of Onhaye in the province of Namur, near the French border.

Tyméo Brigou disappeared along with his 29-year-old father, Bryan, on the afternoon of June 27. The father’s car was found the following day near the local football club, but no trace of either had been found until now.

Key facts

Discovery in a difficult-to-access area

The body was found on the morning of August 23, after a lengthy search. The location, a roadside verge in a densely forested area, had been searched from the air earlier, but thick vegetation prevented a clear view. “There were specific resources and time needed to reach the body,” said Gerry Van Loock of the Missing Persons Unit, the Belgian authority handling the case. “There are many bushes and brambles. It was not straightforward to get to that spot.”

The breakthrough came after a sharp-eyed detective reviewed all witness statements and re-interviewed involved parties. This fresh information led the search team to the specific location.

The grandmother of Tyméo told VRT that the clothing found on the body matches what the boy was wearing on the day he disappeared. An autopsy is scheduled for later today to confirm the identity definitively and to determine the cause of death.

Connection to the local football club

The proximity of the discovery to the local football club is a notable detail in the case. The father’s car was found there a day after the pair vanished, and the body was found roughly two kilometers away. For a site focused on football, this geographical link provides a local context to a national tragedy. The club itself has not commented publicly, but the area has been a focal point for the search efforts.

Father still missing

The father, Bryan, remains unaccounted for. The exact circumstances of his disappearance with his son in late June are not entirely clear. The grandmother of Tyméo stated that the father struggled with drug problems and had a dispute with dealers. She suggested he was afraid something would happen to his son. Police are keeping all options open regarding the father’s whereabouts and his role in the disappearance.

The investigation continues, with authorities focusing on the autopsy results and a wider search for the father. The community of Onhaye, and the broader Belgian public, await answers in a case that has combined a missing child, a parent, and a local football club.

Source: NOS Voetbal – https://nos.nl/l/2628202