The police freed three boys imprisoned by parents
The officers visited the family’s property on April 29. According to one of the policemen cited by « El Mundo », the children were in very poor condition. Although they were not malnourished, but dirty, neglected and completely detached from reality.
During the investigation, it came to light that they had a schedule for using the toilet (with a limited number of visits), and for the rest of the time they had to wear diapers. They did not attend school and they were not allowed to leave the house. The door was closed and the windows were blocked. Even going to the garden was prohibited. – When we wanted to lead the children outside, it turned out that they did not have shoes at their size – the investigators admitted.
Tragedy in Spain: children forced to diapers and live in insulation
The police action began after one of the neighbors reported that she could hear the voices of children coming from home. Although she never saw them leaving him. In turn, Rafael Ruiz, who lived opposite, admitted that he did not even know that the house was inhabited.
After a few days of observation, the police also pointed out that food boxes were delivered to the house. And this aroused their suspicions, because there were so many orders that it would be enough for several people.
When they knocked home, the children asked the officers to wear masks and keep their distance. And the boys put three masks at once. That is why investigators suspect that parents suffered from the so -called Covid syndrome and lived in constant fear of the virus. The mother – according to the police – claimed that insulation was the best way to ensure safety for children. Parents were also to buy in the black market drug containing THC, which they gave children as ADHD treatment.
A serious sick cat with a tumor also lived in the house.
The neighbor helped free trapped children
Minister of Social Welfare Marta del Arco announced that the boys are in good physical condition. On the other hand, expert Flor Gonzalez explained that parents repeatedly told children that the outside world is harmful to them. In her opinion, damages caused to children are serious, but they are not irreversible.
Parents, 48-year-old Melissa Ann Steffen, having German-American citizenship, and 53-year-old German Christian Steffen, is now in custody without the possibility of getting on the bail. It is not excluded that there will be accusation of crimes related to child abuse.
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Pablo Lorenzana / AFP
The Spanish police releases three boys imprisoned by parents.
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– / Police materials
The Spanish police releases three boys imprisoned by parents.
:format(webp)/s3/static.nrc.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02075651/web-0205BINscheveningen.jpg "How could things go wrong in Scheveningen? ‘The police were with far too little’")
