The Portugal judicial system has placed two French nationals behind bars in connection with the abandonment of two young children on a rural road in Setúbal district, while the biological father waits to receive authorization to reunite with his sons.
Marine Rousseau, 41, and Marc Ballabriga, 55—reported to have prior convictions in France for domestic violence and harassment—are being held on charges of aggravated exposure and abandonment, along with suspicion of domestic violence offenses. Ballabriga faces an additional count of qualified physical assault against one of the minors. The pair was arrested in Fátima on May 21, 2026, two days after the children, aged 3 and 5, were discovered wandering alone near the EN253 highway between Alcácer do Sal and Comporta.
Rousseau is serving pre-trial detention at Tires Prison in Cascais, while Ballabriga is housed in a detention facility attached to the Polícia Judiciária headquarters in Lisbon after no suitable isolation cell could be found at Setúbal's main prison for his mandatory 15-day adaptation period.
Why This Matters
• Cross-border legal coordination: Portugal and France are now navigating international custody procedures—an outcome that could take weeks to formalize.
• Severe criminal penalties: Aggravated assault charges carry significant prison sentences under Portugal law, and both suspects face multiple counts.
• Child welfare precedent: The case has triggered protective measures under Law 147/99 (Child and Youth Protection Law), highlighting coordination challenges in cross-border parental disputes.
• Psychological impact: Child welfare authorities warn the children may require ongoing psychological support after the traumatic abandonment by their mother.
Timeline of Events
May 19, 2026: Local baker Alexandre Quintas discovers the two boys, aged 3 and 5, walking alone with backpacks containing food and water near Monte Novo do Sul, on the EN253 between Comporta and Alcácer do Sal. He alerts the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR).
May 21, 2026: The French nationals are arrested in Fátima.
May 23, 2026: The Setúbal Judicial Court orders pre-trial detention for both suspects.
What Happened on the EN253
The two boys were found walking alone with backpacks containing food and water near Monte Novo do Sul, a sparsely populated stretch of road between the coastal resort of Comporta and the inland town of Alcácer do Sal. Baker Alexandre Quintas alerted the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR), which launched an immediate search for the adults responsible.
The children were taken to São Bernardo Hospital in Setúbal for evaluation and released into provisional foster care with a French-speaking family in Lisbon, arranged through coordination with the French Embassy. Both minors are now receiving psychological support through Portuguese child welfare services.
The Biological Father Awaits Authorization
The biological father, who has not been publicly identified, broke his silence in an interview with French regional broadcaster Ici Alsace TV, confirming he is awaiting official authorization from Portuguese and French authorities to reunite with his children.
"It's only a matter of days before I have them back," he stated. "I have been thinking about them every single second since the Colmar police station contacted me about their disappearance."
He described his readiness to reclaim custody and urged the media to respect the family's privacy. "My children are going to need to rebuild their lives, as will I," he said. "I am not trying to defend or minimize the acts committed. The facts remain serious and deeply shocking."
The father had limited, supervised visitation rights under a ruling by the Family Court of Colmar, a decision he had been appealing at the time his ex-partner disappeared with the children. French authorities had issued a missing-persons alert for Rousseau and the boys before their discovery in Portugal.
Who Is Marine Rousseau?
A former acquaintance of Rousseau told Portuguese media that they met in a Facebook support group for victims of toxic relationships. At the time, Rousseau appeared "balanced, thoughtful, kind, and even altruistic," the acquaintance recalled. "Her children were the most sacred thing to her—the apple of her eye."
But around mid-2025, the acquaintance noticed a shift. Rousseau began discussing conspiracy theories and frequenting fringe websites, prompting the acquaintance to cut ties. "I saw a different person. It wasn't the same woman," they said.
Residents of Colmar, the Alsatian city where Rousseau lived with her sons, expressed shock that a woman with no apparent warning signs would abandon her children in a foreign country where they knew neither the language nor a single contact.
What the Law Says
The Setúbal Judicial Court ordered pre-trial detention after prosecutors argued the suspects posed flight risk, risk of tampering with evidence, and danger of continued criminal activity.
Under Portugal's Penal Code, the crime of aggravated exposure or abandonment applies when minors are placed in life-threatening situations. Ballabriga's alleged physical assault of one child elevates his potential charges significantly. Both defendants are also under investigation for domestic violence, a crime that has taken on heightened prosecutorial priority in Portugal since legislative reforms in 2021.
Rousseau's defense attorney has not issued a public statement. Ballabriga declined to comment through his legal representative.
Pre-Trial Detention in Portugal
Pre-trial detention (prisão preventiva) in Portugal is an investigative custody measure that can last up to 4 months before formal charges are filed and an arraignment occurs. It is authorized when prosecutors demonstrate that a suspect poses a flight risk, risk of evidence tampering, or danger of continued criminal activity. In this case, the court found all three factors present.
Rousseau and Ballabriga are expected to remain in custody throughout the investigative phase given the severity of the allegations and their assessed flight risk.
Repatriation Process and Custody Battle Ahead
Portugal's judicial authorities have clarified that while the children are currently under Portuguese state protection, formal repatriation must be initiated by French courts under international child abduction treaties. The Ministry of Public Prosecution in Grândola is coordinating with the NIAVE (Nucleus for Investigation and Support of Specific Victims) in Setúbal on the Portuguese side, while France has opened a parallel investigation into alleged international parental kidnapping.
The Family Court in Santiago do Cacém launched an emergency protection procedure immediately after the children were found, and the foster family currently caring for them was vetted by both Portuguese child welfare authorities and French consular staff.
Legal experts say the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction will govern the return process. This international treaty establishes procedures for the return of children who have been wrongfully removed from their country of habitual residence. Under the Convention, French judges—not Portuguese ones—will ultimately decide permanent custody and parental responsibility. However, Portugal retains jurisdiction over the criminal case against Rousseau and Ballabriga.
The father's previous appeals against the supervised visitation order are expected to be revisited by the Colmar Family Court once the children return to France, though the abandonment incident may significantly alter the custody landscape.
Impact on Child Protection Policy
The case underscores the importance of cross-border coordination in child welfare cases involving EU citizens. Portugal's Law 147/99 guarantees protection to all minors on Portuguese soil regardless of nationality or residency status.
Portuguese authorities have stressed that the children's access to healthcare, education, and psychological services has been guaranteed under Portugal's universal child welfare framework. The National Health Service (SNS) provides free care to all minors under 18, and public education is available through secondary school regardless of immigration status.
What Comes Next
The Portugal Attorney General's Office has not disclosed a formal timeline for charges, but pre-trial detention can last up to 4 months before arraignment under Portuguese law. Rousseau and Ballabriga are expected to remain in custody throughout the investigative phase.
The biological father, meanwhile, has pledged to focus on his children's return and recovery. French diplomatic sources confirmed that consular officials are visiting the children regularly and that their physical health is stable, though psychological evaluations are ongoing. The foster family has experience with emergency placements and is working closely with child psychologists.
Legal observers in both countries expect the repatriation to be formalized within 2 to 3 weeks, though final custody arrangements could take months to resolve through the French family court system.
