Spanish authorities have rescued three children who had allegedly been kept in severe isolation by their parents, a German couple residing in Oviedo, Spain. The children—10-year-old and eight-year-old twins—had reportedly been confined to their home since approximately December 2021, long after official COVID-19 restrictions had ended.
According to police reports, the children were discovered in conditions described as prison-like, showing signs of extreme social isolation. Upon being removed from the residence on April 28, 2025, they reacted to the outdoors with unfamiliarity—touching grass curiously and observing a snail with fascination. Officials present stated the children appeared to breathe deeply, as if experiencing fresh air for the first time.
Authorities were alerted after a neighbor filed a report on April 14, noting that the children had not been seen attending school. Although initial assessments by the police did not raise concern, further surveillance revealed that only the father, aged 53, was seen leaving the house to collect food and mail. Other residents confirmed that the rest of the family had not exited the home for over three years.
When approached, the father allowed officers to enter the property, where they found the 48-year-old mother hastily placing multiple face masks on each child. She reportedly warned police to be cautious, claiming the children were seriously ill.
Inside the residence, officers found the home to be in a state of severe neglect, filled with waste, medical supplies, and used masks, creating what local authorities described as an unsanitary and “pathogenic” environment. The children were found sleeping in cribs inappropriate for their age and surrounded by defaced dolls and drawings of disturbing imagery.
Despite the mother’s warnings, medical evaluations confirmed that none of the children suffered from any illnesses. However, officials stated they were in poor condition—physically unclean, psychologically withdrawn, and completely disconnected from normal social and educational development. Although they had been fed, the children showed signs of significant psychological trauma due to prolonged isolation.
The parents have since been taken into custody and placed in pretrial detention without bail. They face charges of domestic violence involving ongoing psychological abuse and child neglect. Authorities have suggested that the couple may be suffering from an extreme form of anxiety or delusion linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, referred to as “COVID syndrome.”
The children are currently under the care of social services in a juvenile protection center, while investigations continue into the circumstances and motivations behind their prolonged confinement.
Main Source: ABC (Spain)
