A Portuguese court has placed Marine Rousseau, 41, and Marc Ballagriga, 55, in pretrial detention following accusations of abandoning their two young sons on a roadside near Alcácer do Sal. The children, who are both under the age of five, were discovered in tears carrying only backpacks filled with food and water, lacking any identification documents.

The incident occurred on May 21, 2026, after the boys' father reported them missing from their home in Colmar, France, on May 11. A pan-European alert was issued, leading to their identification by police after a local man discovered them and notified authorities.

During a two-day hearing at the Setúbal court, the couple was deemed a flight risk, leading to their custodial remand for charges of aggravated assault, endangerment, and abandonment. The couple had been arrested approximately 170 kilometers away in Fátima after their vehicle was located at a café.

Authorities noted that the children are now in foster care, receiving necessary medical attention, and are reported to be in good health. They have since been placed with a foster family in Lisbon while arrangements are made for their return to France.

The mother and stepfather displayed a "distant attitude" during their court hearing, prompting concerns from law enforcement about their emotional detachment regarding the children's situation.

As the case unfolds, both police in Portugal and French authorities are continuing their investigations into this troubling incident, which has drawn significant media attention and public concern.