House of horrors with kids locked up in nappies discovered by 'nosy' neighbour

Daily Record

16-05-2025

Silvia Gomez Anson from Toledo in Spain had been suspicious of the family ever since they moved in during the COVID pandemic - and was hailed a hero after alerting police to her fears
People often grumble about nosy neighbours who can't seem to mind their own business, but one woman has been hailed as a hero after alerting police about unusual happenings in the house across the street from her home.
Silvia Gomez Anson spent months keeping an eye on her 'odd' German neighbour in the tranquil village of Toleo - nestled at the foot of a mountain in the Spanish northern region of Asturias - according to The Daily Mail. She had been keeping records on her neighbours ever since they moved in during the COVID pandemic.
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The saga began in August 2024, when Silvia spotted what she thought was a young girl playing in the garden next door. At first, she thought nothing of it, assuming a friend of the neighbour had simply been visiting with their daughter.
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However, some months ago she noticed movement behind one of the blinds while the neighbour - who she assumed lived alone - was collecting a delivery from the front door. It suddenly dawned on her that the 'girl' she saw last summer could be living inside the house.
This piqued Silvia's interest and she began monitoring the property. She noted down every minor detail, including when the father took the bins out, reports the Mirror US.
She recorded deliveries of food, medicine and other goods - as well as when she heard the voices of children. Gradually, she began to believe that there were several children living in the residence - and claims they were not allowed to leave.
An economics professor from the University of Oviedo, she says she observed that only the family's father was permitted to leave their home. The man primarily ventured out to collect groceries delivered at the front door, and Silvia also noticed that the three children of the family only raised their house's window blinds for brief intervals.
Silvia made the tough choice to inform the authorities when she noticed the continuous purchase of nappies, despite the children being eight and ten years old.
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On 14 April, she presented her 'forensic level' findings to the authorities, who were so taken aback that they promptly initiated an investigation into the matter.
Exactly a fortnight later, the police raided the house, revealing a hidden family living in squalor with 'serious signs of child abuse and neglect'.
The vigilant neighbour's long-standing suspicions were confirmed after the police discovered Christian Steffen, 58, living with his 22-stone American wife Melissa Ann Steffen, 48, and their three young sons - twins aged eight, and a 10 year old sibling.
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Reportedly, due to 'an extreme fear of Covid-19', they had remained confined inside the home since arriving in December 2021 - during the sixth wave of the pandemic.
Their mental state around the lockdown was so prevalent that police were asked to wear masks before entering the dwelling - despite this practice being long abandoned.
The couple's sons, unable to speak English from missing years of education, wore three face masks each due to their fear of the illness. Authorities believe the youngsters would have endured prolonged suffering if not for Silvia's investigative instincts.
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Authorities uncovered that the residence incurred unusually high electricity charges, attributed to operating a minimum of six air purifiers continuously - coupled with an elevated water bill, indicating frequent showers to evade germs, as there was no evidence of the water being used for cleaning given the home's filthy condition when officers arrived. Psychiatric experts have posited that Mr. and Mrs. Steffen might be afflicted with "COVID Syndrome."
From the outset, the family maintained a secluded existence. Upon relocating, they began self-isolating in their ample villa - yet causing no nuisances, most neighbours simply disregarded them.
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However, Silvia was apprehensive that something was amiss.
Upon law enforcement entering the premises, it was observed that all windows were sealed shut, and the atmosphere was constantly cleansed by an array of ozone generators. The children, discovered still in nappies, had been confined indoors perpetually.
Medical assessments revealed the children exhibited severe constipation due to their inability to access a lavatory.
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Their guardians demanded that they defecate in their nappies as infants might do - which led to the kids holding back their bowel movements as long as possible in an effort to adapt.
Christian and Melissa Ann Steffen were under the impression that their children had severe health conditions, and feared they would perish if they contracted COVID-19.
In an attempt to prevent this, they cut off their children from the outside world for over three years. During this period, the parents insisted their children wear triple face masks and only don pyjamas and sanitary socks.
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Regarding the Steffen family's stay in Oviedo, Spain, it was discovered by the police that while still in Germany, the parents had requested their children's school to allow them to continue their studies without physically attending classes. However, their request was turned down and the school informed the Steffens that the children would be removed from the education system, which would necessitate the school to alert social services.
Viewing this as a threat to their lifestyle, the German couple chose to relocate to Spain, leading them to settle in the village.
Books used for home-schooling, various board games, and children's drawings - some of which were disturbingly depicting monsters on their wooden beds - were discovered by authorities at the Steffens' residence. The children are currently undergoing medical and psychological evaluations.
However, police officers were taken aback by the children's extreme reactions when they were first brought to their back garden, showing clear signs of panic upon seeing the outside world, having been kept indoors for over three years.
Spanish police have confirmed that the reign of terror imposed by Christian and Melissa Ann Steffen has finally come to an end, thanks to a vigilant neighbour who alerted them. Without her intervention, the couple could have continued to traumatise the children for many more years.
The pair now face between five and seven years in prison, although these sentences could be extended if additional charges are levelled against them.