Sexologist mother accused of abandoning boys in forest, sings opera in court …

Marine Rousseau, a 41-year-old French national, was arrested in Fátima, Portugal, on suspicion of child abandonment and domestic violence after her two young sons (aged 4 and 5) were found alone by a roadside in Alcácer do Sal. She was detained alongside her partner, Marc Ballabriga, a 55-year-old former police officer with a prior conviction for domestic violence.

• Professional Background: Rousseau presents herself on social media as a "sexologist" and specialist in trauma and body practices, claiming to have studied psychomotricity at the University of Pierre and Marie Curie in Paris.

• The Incident: The children's father reported them missing from Colmar, France, on May 11, 2026. French police tracked Rousseau’s movements through southern France, Spain, and finally Portugal, where a bank card transaction in Miranda do Douro helped locate the couple.

• Legal Status: Both suspects were brought before a judge in Setúbal for initial questioning. The children are currently in the care of a temporary foster family and are reported to be in good health.

According to daily mail: "Published: 05:40 EDT, 23 May 2026 | Updated: 10:10 EDT, 23 May 2026: By GERARD COUZENS

“A sexologist mother and her partner accused of abandoning her two young sons in a Portuguese forest burst into song and declarations of love during a bizarre court hearing. Marine Rousseau, 41, and former police officer Marc Ballabriga, 55, are accused of leaving Barthelemy and Zacharie, aged five and three, blindfolded during what has been described as a twisted “treasure hunt”. The boys were found crying and screaming alone on a rural road on Tuesday before Rousseau and Ballabriga were tracked down around 100 miles away at a cafe near Lisbon. The French couple appeared in court at a pre-trial hearing on Friday in handcuffs escorted by Portuguese police officers. During the hearing, Rousseau was heard singing like an opera performer while Ballabriga shouted in French: “I love you”. It was unclear who he was referring to. The pair are accused of domestic violence, child abandonment and child neglect. A judge ruled on Saturday that the couple will remain in custody until their trial.”

• Distinction: This individual is distinct from other notable persons named Marine Rousseau, such as a microbiologist based in Canada or a psychologist in Grenoble. I would change their names, If I were them.

First of all I don’t even know what to say about, thanks God the kids are safe and taken care. But how on Earth this is even possible in Europe? This is something you can expect in USA, South Asia or may be Mexico or certain parts of South America, but Europe? Sexologist and Psychomotor Therapist? What the hell is that? I thought this was a joke… Nooooo. It is isn’t. I am not sure this society is moving in the right direction. Period. Professions like this should be banded. This is psychological schizophrenia. For Real. She also has 16 year old son. This person is either border line insane or well playing pre-planed trial prep role. After all her partner is formal police officer and they had plenty of time to plan it. I would have never considered her insane, actually, for court purpose, simply because they know how to get out of psychiatric facility. Craziest case. It would be interesting to see what she gets. Minimum 12 years and €175,000 fine?

In France, penalties for child abandonment and abuse are significantly enhanced when the victim is 15 years old or younger or is a direct descendant of the perpetrator.

Abandonment and Endangerment

• *Abandoning a child: Abandoning or exposing a child under 15 is a distinct criminal offense, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a €75,000 fine, if committed by the legal manager of a group exploiting dependency.

• *Deprivation of care: Failing to provide necessary care, resulting in deprivation, carries a maximum sentence of 7 years imprisonment and a €100,000 fine; if the act results in the child's death, the penalty increases to 20 years imprisonment.

• Family Abandonment: Specifically for non-payment of child support for more than two months, the penalty is 2 years imprisonment and/or a €15,000 fine.

Violence and Sexual Abuse

• Physical Violence: Acts causing permanent mutilation or infirmity are punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and a €150,000 fine. Manslaughter resulting from violence against a child under 15 carries a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.

• Rape and Sexual Assault: Rape of a minor under 15 is punishable by 20 years imprisonment, increasing to 30 years in aggravating circumstances (such as by an ascendant or person with authority). Simple assault on a minor under 15 carries up to 7 years imprisonment and a €100,000 fine, rising to 10 years and €150,000 if committed by an ascendant or person with authority.

The French legal system treats the age of the victim as a primary aggravating factor, with most violent crimes against children under 15 carrying the highest tiers of imprisonment and fines available under the Penal Code.

On the very sad note this news had reinforced my desire to relocate from USA, sooner than I planed. People in Europe act civil even with the craziest people, while in US law enforcement does not respect anyone and attacks innocent. Americans became extremely negative, aggressive, arrogant and intolerable in the past decade and in the past few years.