Onhaye, Belgium, 25 August (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – An adult body has been discovered during a major search operation in Onhaye, with Belgian prosecutors saying there are reasonable grounds to believe it is Bryan Brigou, the 29-year-old father who disappeared with his five-year-old son Tyméo in June.
The discovery was made on Tuesday as police and search teams continued to comb the area in Namur province. It came one day after the body of a young child was found in undergrowth beside the N97. Prosecutors have said evidence indicates the child’s remains are probably those of Tyméo, although formal identification procedures have been required.
Adult body discovered during Onhaye search
A large-scale search resumed on Tuesday morning, involving police officers, specialist search teams and people assisting with efforts in the area. A security perimeter was established near the local football ground while investigators examined several locations around the N97.
During the operation, a second body, described as that of an adult, was discovered. Initial reports stressed that the remains had not yet been formally identified and that forensic examinations were necessary before authorities could establish the person’s identity with certainty.
The discovery represents a significant development in an investigation that began after the father and son were last seen on 27 June.
Prosecutor says identity can reasonably be suspected
Following the discovery, the Namur prosecutor indicated that investigators believe the two bodies are probably those of the missing father and son.
Asked whether the adult body could be that of Bryan Brigou, the prosecutor said it could “reasonably” be thought to be him, while stopping short of announcing a formal identification.
The cautious wording reflects the continuing forensic process. Authorities have not established publicly the circumstances or causes of the deaths, and investigators have previously stressed that all hypotheses remain under examination.
Tyméo’s body believed to have been found on Monday
The latest discovery follows the recovery of a child’s body on Monday, 24 August. The Namur Public Prosecutor’s Office said the Federal Judicial Police found the remains at around 11am in a roadside embankment beside the N97 after receiving new information.
Prosecutors said evidence found at the location suggested the child could be Tyméo, who was five when he disappeared. They also said the circumstances and cause of the child’s death had not yet been determined.
Father and son disappeared in June
Bryan and Tyméo were last seen in Onhaye on 27 June. The father’s dark Volkswagen Golf was subsequently found in the area, prompting extensive searches and a public appeal for information.
Belgian police circulated descriptions of both missing people as investigators sought witnesses and information capable of reconstructing their movements.
The case remained unresolved for almost two months before Monday’s discovery dramatically changed the direction of the investigation.
Forensic investigation now takes priority
The recovery of an adult body means investigators can now focus on formal identification and establishing how and when the two deaths occurred.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed a cause of death or announced definitive conclusions about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance. Those questions will depend on forensic examinations and the wider judicial investigation.
Formal confirmation of the identities will be central to the next stage of the case, alongside efforts to establish a detailed timeline of what happened after Bryan Brigou and his son were last seen in late June.
