Chilling ‘screaming' drawings of 3 children held captive for 4 years since Covid by ‘germaphobe' parents in Spain
THE chilling drawings of three children held captive in a Spanish "house of horrors" since the beginning of the Covid pandemic have been revealed.
The eight-year-old twins and ten-year-old boy were
by their parents for four years for fears of catching the virus.
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A screaming red monster drawn on the bed by one of the young boys
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A skull and cross bones drawn on the bed by one of the children
Credit: Spanish Police
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Cops freed three young children from a house where they had been held captive since the pandemic
Credit: Solarpix
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Christian Steffen, 53, has been arrested alongside his wife for alleged child abuse
Credit: Solarpix
Pictures from inside the
A harrowing drawing of a red screaming monster can be seen in the images, as well as a skull and crossbones - sparking fresh fears for the children's well being.
The young boys were found in horrific conditions - each wearing three face masks and forced to wear nappies and sleep in caged beds.
But despite the piles of rubbish inside the house it is thought that parents Christian, 53, and Melissa Steffen, 48, were terrified of germs getting into their home.
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Sources from the investigation told El Espanol: "They were obsessed with the idea that their children had serious illnesses and were going to die from the pandemic."
The couple were reportedly using air purifier machines throughout their home with at least 5 or 6 working at all hours of the day - in the master bedroom, the children's bedrooms, and the living room.
The family also racked up an extremely high water bill - despite only drinking bottled water.
This revelation sparked further concern as it is thought that the children may have been subjected to compulsive showers to avoid any germs.
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The mum-of-three told cops the family had asked officials in Germany - where they lived previously - for permission to educate their kids at home after the initial Covid crisis.
The school responded with a warning that social services would be alerted if they took them out of school.
Connecticut woman who allegedly held stepson captive for over 20 years pleads not guilty
Instead the family decided to emigrate to Spain in an attempt to keep their children hidden away from the outside world.
A guest room in the house had been turned into a makeshift school for the children - where the boys had reportedly learned to read, write and draw.
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Christian was reportedly the only one who was allowed to leave the house - but only for essential trips to the supermarket.
Not only were the children not allowed to leave the house they were also not allowed to use the bathroom when they wanted.
A source close to the ongoing investigation said: 'They had a timetable and a maximum number of times a day they could use the toilet because the rest of the time they had to wear nappies."
The young boys were reportedly suffering from "severe constipation" when they were discovered.
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An unnamed investigator told Spanish media: 'The children's parents claimed the youngsters didn't know how to control their bowel movements but the paediatric report has shown that to be false.'
The parents also used black market medicines containing
cannabis
derivative THC to treat the kids for alleged deficit attention disorders which investigators say they are not even sure the youngsters were suffering.
The children were reportedly told to lower the blinds on their bedroom windows at 5.10pm each day after being allowed to raise them exactly halfway up the windows during daylight hours.
They had no television to watch or electronic games to play with and wore pyjamas all day and all night - and many neighbours have admitted they had no idea anyone was even living in the house.
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The woman reportedly heard voices that sounded like children coming from the house despite never having seen anyone leave the house to play or go to school.
After several days of surveillance cops were clear that more than just the man they saw coming in and out had to live there.
The size of the boxes of food of the orders that the man brought into the home were the biggest giveaway.
But nothing could prepare the agents for what they would find when they entered the horror house.
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The police said the house was full of rubbish and old medicines as well as filthy pet excrement and used tampons.
When they wanted to take them out of the building they did not even have shoes of their size as they had not bought shoes for years.
The police added that when the children were freed, one of them knelt on the grass and touched it with amazement.
An officer said: 'They touched the grass and breathed fresh air as if they had never done so before in their lives.
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'They saw a snail and they were completely taken aback.'
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The boys have now been placed under the guardianship of the Government of the Principality
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The cops were horrified by what they found inside the house
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The children were forbidden to leave the house
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The chief commissioner of the Local Police of Oviedo, Francisco Javier Lozano explained the details of the operation leading to the arrest of the couple at 2.45pm on Monday.
The initial search of the house was reportedly made more difficult because Spain had been plunged into darkness by the electricity outrage.
When the cops knocked on the front door, the father answered but asked the officers to wait for a few minutes so the children could put their masks on.
One police officer told the Spanish press: "They were very scared and around the mother, who told us all the time that the little ones had serious pathologies and that we should not approach them.
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"They had three masks each on top of each other. They were oblivious to any contact with reality."
Lozano added: "We have dismantled the house of horrors".
Having been checked out at the Central University Hospital of Asturias the children have now been placed under the guardianship of the Government of the Principality.
The boys' parents were arrested following the police raid and may face prison sentences of between five and seven years.
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The couple are being investigated on suspicion of domestic violence, psychological mistreatment and child abandonment.
Christian reportedly worked as a freelance senior tech recruiter and HR manager, having obtained a doctorate in philosophy from Hamburg University.
He previously worked as a marketing consultant and head of a call centre at a telecommunications company.
The black and white photo of the dad was revealed on Friday by El Espanol.
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The cops launched an investigation after a resident raised concerns that there may be people inside the house
Credit: EPA
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The family's house in Oviedo, northern Spain
Credit: AFP
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