Mother Abandons 7-Year-Old Son During the Covid Pandemic
In a shocking case reported by MailOnline, a 39-year-old mother, whose identity remains undisclosed, abandoned her seven-year-old son, leaving him to fend for himself during the Covid pandemic.
The woman, known to MailOnline, moved in with another woman, leaving the child alone in a council flat in Nersac, a village on the outskirts of Angouleme.
Harrowing Living Conditions and Heartbreaking Discovery
The abandoned boy faced dire living conditions, resorting to stealing tomatoes from a neighbor's balcony for sustenance.
Despite having to endure cold showers and lacking heating and electricity, he managed to maintain a semblance of normalcy by attending his local primary school, where teachers were unaware of his tragic circumstances.
Neighbors only discovered the boy's plight almost two years later, prompting them to alert the authorities.
Mother's Abandonment Revealed in Court
The mother faced charges of child abandonment in a court trial held in the south-west French town of Angouleme earlier this month.
Prosecutors revealed the boy's struggle to stay warm during winter months, relying on three blankets due to the absence of hot water and heating.
The trial exposed the mother's decision to abandon her son, moving to live with her female partner three miles away.
Neighbors and School Community Unaware
Neighbors in Nersac and Sireuil were oblivious to the boy's solitary life.
Despite his hardships, he continued attending school, impressing teachers with his academic performance.
Friends and schoolmates were unaware of his dire circumstances until a neighbor noticed him walking to school alone, prompting the alarm to be raised.
Legal Consequences and Psychological Impact
The mother received a six-month electronic surveillance sentence for abandoning and endangering a minor, while the boy's father, living in another town, faced no charges the boy, now in care, refuses to see his mother.
Psychologists credit the school routine with saving his life, providing a sense of normalcy amid neglect.
The town's mayor emphasized the difficulty in detecting the boy's situation, given his ability to maintain appearances and excel in academics.
Reflecting on Modern Anonymity and Community Responsibility
Neighbors expressed guilt at not intervening sooner, attributing part of the neglect to the anonymity of modern life.
The case raises questions about community responsibility in the absence of the traditional support system that once surrounded families and children.
