Mother Sent to Toughest Women's Prison After Abandoning Children in Portuguese Woods
Mother who abandoned her children blindfolded in Portuguese woods is sent to the country's toughest women's prison - as videos of her partner decrying 'end of the world' emerge
Image: Mail Online
Marine Rousseau, a 41-year-old mother from France, has been remanded in Portugal's toughest women's prison after abandoning her two young sons in the woods. The boys, aged five and four, were found alone and scared, prompting investigations into the couple's background and mental health issues.
- 01The two boys were discovered on May 19, 2023, abandoned in a wooded area between Alcacer do Sal and Comporta, Portugal.
- 02Marine Rousseau and her partner Marc Ballabriga face charges of child endangerment and abandonment, with Ballabriga also charged with aggravated assault.
- 03Rousseau has a background in psychomotor therapy and sexology, while Ballabriga is a former gendarmerie officer believed to suffer from a psychiatric disorder.
- 04The boys' biological father has expressed concern for their well-being, emphasizing the need for privacy as they recover from the trauma.
- 05Experts warn of potential long-term psychological effects on the children due to their abandonment and the circumstances surrounding it.
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Marine Rousseau, a 41-year-old French mother, has been sent to Tires Prison in Portugal for pretrial detention after abandoning her two sons, aged five and four, in the woods. The boys were found on May 19, 2023, alone and crying, having been blindfolded and left in a rural area between Alcacer do Sal and Comporta. Rousseau and her partner, Marc Ballabriga, were arrested after a couple discovered the children and alerted authorities. The boys' father, who has limited visitation rights, expressed his shock and concern for their recovery, urging respect for their privacy. Rousseau, a trained psychomotor therapist, and Ballabriga, a former police officer with suspected mental health issues, face serious charges, including child endangerment. The children's abandonment has raised alarms among psychologists, who warn of potential long-term emotional trauma from the incident. As investigations continue, the boys have been placed in foster care while French authorities work on their return.
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The case has raised significant concerns regarding child welfare and mental health in Portugal and France.
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