British police begin hunt for Alex Batty's mother and grandfather and say the boy spoke to his overjoyed grandmother last night as detectives fly out to search French region known for its hippy camps

Daily Mail ^ | Dec 15 | By RACHAEL BUNYAN and RICHARD MARSDEN

[RandFan]

British detectives have launched a manhunt for a boy's mother and grandfather in southern France after they allegedly kidnapped him and took him to a 'spiritual commune' six years ago where he was 'brainwashed' before he managed to escape.

Alex Batty, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was just 11 when he did not return from a holiday to Spain with his mother Melanie, then 37, and grandfather David, then 58, in 2017.

His grandmother and legal guardian, Susan Caruana, who has spent an agonising six years not knowing if her grandson is alive, said in 2018 that she believed her daughter Melanie and ex-husband David had taken Alex abroad to pursue an 'alternative lifestyle'.

Detectives from Greater Manchester Police have flown out to France to hunt for Melanie and David in Ariege region, which is known for hippy camps, conspiracy theorists, sects and cults. The police officers will question Alex and likely ask him to tell them where his mother is and how to contact her.

The teenager, who was 'brainwashed' by Melanie and David according to his family in England, has so far refused to say where exactly they were staying in their 'spiritual commune'.

Alex is expected to come back to the UK for an emotional reunion with his grandmother in the next few days, Greater Manchester Police said today, adding that the teenager spoke to an overjoyed Ms Caruana on a video call last night

[RandFan]

I knew detectives would want to speak to the mother urgently. The boy not giving the location simply not good enough. He has to tell them where she is and what happened.

This is a massive crime when you think of the resources and effort to find the reportedly missing boy over the last 6 years!

She's in trouble ... This isn't a game, you know.

[Jyotishi]

There’s a movie in this.

[Adder]

Brits will turn it into a 6 part mini crime series...Sounds almost tailor made for Vera...

[RandFan]

it’s an international MANHUNT now.

The script is not finished yet.

[Libloather]

...which is known for hippy camps, conspiracy theorists, sects and cults.

RAT convention in Chicago.

[yldstrk]

Boy’s mother is a dipsheet.

[CIB-173RDABN]

known for hippy camps, conspiracy theorists, sects and cults.

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This can not be true. Everyone knows this only happens in the US. /s

[desertsolitaire]

Likely starring Gerard Depardieu, as the grandfather.

[Brooklyn Attitude]

I hate hippies!