Two young siblings, aged seven and nine, were recently discovered living in extreme isolation and neglect on a remote farm in Northern Italy. Found unable to speak, read, or write, the children appeared heavily neglected, wearing nappies and communicating only through a primitive language they created between themselves. This shocking case unfolded when police arrived to deliver an evacuation order following a flood alert, uncovering a dire situation of child neglect hidden from the outside world.
The children’s parents, Dutch nationals living on the farm in Lauriano near Turin, had deliberately cut off contact with society, homeschooling the children without proper registration or medical care. The father explained his decision as a protective measure against viruses and modern society, influenced by conspiracy theories, but the authorities deemed the children to be deprived of adequate care. The Turin Juvenile Court has since removed the children from their parents and placed them in state care, with foster arrangements underway while potential legal actions against the parents are considered.
Harrowing Discovery on a Remote Italian Farm
The siblings’ plight came to light in early April during a routine visit by police responding to a flood evacuation alert in the Piedmont region. Officers were stunned to find the children living in filthy conditions in a dilapidated farmhouse with no running water or electricity. They had never been registered with official authorities nor attended school or received medical attention, effectively rendering them invisible to the system. The children’s inability to speak or write and their reliance on a self-created form of communication underscored the extent of their social isolation.
Authorities quickly realized this was no ordinary case of homeschooling but a serious neglect situation. The farm itself was described as rundown, with broken furniture and rubbish scattered outdoors. The children were still wearing nappies well past the typical age, highlighting the lack of proper care. Italian media dubbed them “ghost children” due to their absence from all records and social contact, deepening the public’s horror at their invisible existence.
Parents’ Claims and Legal Response
The father, a 54-year-old Dutch man, claimed he had isolated the children to shield them from the dangers of viruses, including COVID-19, and from modern society’s perceived harms. He designed the farm to be self-sufficient, avoiding all outside communication and services. Despite his stated intentions to protect the children, officials observed that neither child could read or write, and they appeared physically and developmentally stunted. The mother, aged 38, remained largely out of the public eye, and no record of her or the children existed with local authorities.
The Turin Juvenile Court acted swiftly, recognizing clear neglect and removing the children to safeguard their wellbeing. They are now in protective custody, receiving proper care and education for the first time. While investigations continue, the case has sparked widespread media attention in Italy and beyond, highlighting the dangers of extreme isolation and parental control driven by conspiracy fears. The fate of the parents and any legal consequences remain pending as authorities prioritize the children’s recovery and integration into society.