Mother ‘abducted son, 12, to live in Moroccan commune’
A MISSING 12-year-old alleged to have been abducted by members of his own family might have been taken to live in a commune abroad, police believe.
Alex Batty did not return to the UK after a week-long holiday in Spain with his mother in October last year.
Melanie Batty, 37, who does not currently have parental guardianship, and David Batty, 58, Alex’s grandfather, are both wanted by police in connection with his alleged abduction.
Detectives investigating the boy’s disappearance do not believe he is at risk of harm, but they want to reunite him with Susan Caruana, his grandmother and legal guardian.
She said her daughter and ex-husband had previously taken the boy to a commune in Morocco in 2014 and believes a disagreement about his care could be behind the disappearance.
One line of inquiry is that Alex might have been taken to the country again. Greater Manchester Police issued a fresh appeal for information yesterday, which was Alex’s 12th birthday.
Mrs Caruana, 62, said she had received a video message from the three family members on Facebook in which Ms Batty had explained the reasons for taking Alex.
“They didn’t want him to go to school, they don’t believe in mainstream school,” she said.
Det Sgt Pete Morley said: “We’re really concerned because of some of the alternative beliefs held by Melanie.”