‘Completely cut off from reality’: Three children locked in a ‘house of horrors’ by parents since 2021 rescued in ‘terrible shape’

No child should ever have to endure life trapped in fear, filth, and isolation, especially not at the hands of the very people meant to protect them.

Parents are supposed to be their children’s safe haven, a shelter from the chaos of the world. But what happens when that shelter becomes a prison? This unsettling question has come to the forefront after the shocking discovery of three children, aged 8 and 10, who were rescued from what authorities are calling a “house of horrors” in Oviedo, Spain. For over three years, they lived in conditions so appalling that police described them as “completely cut off from reality.” (via People)

On April 14, 2025, a concerned neighbor alerted local authorities about something strange: three children living in a nearby house hadn’t been seen attending school—or, for that matter, stepping outside at all. At first glance, it might have seemed like an overreaction. After all, some families homeschool, and others value privacy. But as police began piecing together the puzzle, the situation took a much darker turn.

The home, rented by a 53-year-old German man and his 48-year-old American wife, had been something of an enigma to the neighbors. The father was the only one anyone ever saw, and even his appearances were sporadic — usually just to collect groceries or pick up mail. The family had reportedly moved into the neighborhood in October 2021, but by December of that year, they had all but disappeared from view. No school trips, no outings to the park, no casual strolls in the sunshine. Just silence.

When police finally decided to visit the house on April 28, the father, surprisingly cooperative, allowed officers inside. But before they could enter, the parents hurriedly placed not one, not two, but three masks on each child, claiming they were gravely ill.

The reality inside the home was far worse than anyone could have imagined. Trash was strewn across the house, a chaotic mix of discarded items, masks, and an alarming amount of medication. The smell was overwhelming. Unsanitary doesn’t even begin to describe it — authorities later revealed that the children had been living among piles of feces.

The children’s sleeping arrangements were equally disturbing. They slept in cribs, despite their ages — 8-year-old twins and a 10-year-old. Their bedrooms were littered with defaced dolls and monstrous drawings, adding an eerie layer to the already grim environment. It was as though the home had been frozen in time. The parents, particularly the mother, insisted that the children were too ill to leave the house. But when the children were finally examined, they showed no signs of illness. What they did show, however, was a complete disconnect from reality.

Authorities noted that the children were not malnourished, which means food was provided. But that’s about the only baseline need their parents managed to meet. Hygiene, education, emotional well-being — every other aspect of their lives had been neglected. They hadn’t attended school in years. They hadn’t played outside. They hadn’t seen other people. Oviedo Police Chief Javier Lozano speculated that the parents’ actions may have been fueled by what he called “COVID syndrome,” a kind of lingering trauma from the pandemic. But even if fear of the virus played a role, it doesn’t explain the conditions these children were forced to endure.

For now, the children are in the custody of Spain’s Ministry of Welfare, undergoing medical evaluations and beginning what will undoubtedly be a long journey toward recovery. Their parents, meanwhile, are being held without bail on charges of domestic violence, psychological abuse, and child abandonment.