A criminal investigation into Alex Batty’s alleged abduction from his mother and grandfather was announced by Greater Manchester police. Last week, Alex, 17, returned to Oldham near Manchester and was reunited with his grandmother, who has been his legal guardian and made emotional pleas for his return. A delivery driver found Alex walking along a road in southern France on December 13th, revealing that he had been living a nomadic lifestyle with his mother and grandfather.
Alex gave his first interview to The Sun, expressing fear that his mother and grandfather would be arrested on suspicion of child abduction, causing him to lie in order to protect them. He explained that the journey had become overwhelming, making him eager to leave and avoid a certain future of moving around and working, but had not gone to school or had a social life. His mother was against him leaving and had developed a negative view of the government and vaccinations based on misinformation. He finally left in the middle of the night on December 11 from the farmhouse in southern France, carrying only a small bag. Upon his return to his grandmother’s house, he showed his happiness to be home and expressed his ambition to go to college to study computer science, cyber security, or blockchain development.