Latest news with #ElEspanol
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Inside House of Horrors where children were kept in isolation by 'Covid obsessed' US mother and German father - as boys' heartbreaking first act after 'seeing sunlight for first time in four years' is revealed
The horrific conditions three young boys had to suffer while being trapped in their home for four years by their Covid-obsessed parents have been revealed for the first time. Police in the northern city of Oviedo found three young boys between the ages of eight and ten in the house on Wednesday, having apparently been there since 2021. Police in Oviedo visited the property on Monday, during the Spanish blackouts, and were horrified by the conditions the children were living in, DW reports. In an emotional moment, they began hyperventilating and threw themselves onto the lawn to stroke the grass. It is understood the family closed off to the world during the Covid-19 pandemic, forbidding the children from going outside, and making them sleep in caged beds. Images taken inside the house showed horrifying drawings of monsters with sharp teeth scrawled on the cots of the children. The children were still wearing nappies when police found them. Spanish police said the house was in a disgusting state when they entered, with hoards of rubbish and mountains of accumulated medicines. Surfaces were covered in filthy pet excrement and the family also had a cat with a massive tumour. The children, two eight-year-old twin boys and their ten-year-old brother, were found wearing nappies and discovered they were forced to sleep in caged beds during their ordeal. Officers said the children did not appear sick, but were 'dirty'. 'The children were in a deplorable state,' one told El Mundo. 'They weren't malnourished, because they were fed. But they were also dirty and completely disconnected from reality...' 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.' A shocking paediatric report identifying their 'severe constipation' flagged up faeces in their intestines because of the long wait they endured between relieving themselves, El Espanol reported. An unnamed investigator told the respected Spanish news website: '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.' Although police described the house as filthy and dirty nappies were piled up in one of the bathrooms and used tampons found under the parents' double bed, Christian and his German passport holder wife were said to have been using half a dozen air purifier machines they kept in their bedroom. Authorities had previously received a tip from a neighbour, who raised concerns they had never seen the children go to school, DW reports. Police became suspicious when they noticed that only one man was registered as living in the house - but his supermarket orders were enough for several people. The parents, 48-year-old Melissa Ann Steffen, who has German-American citizenship and, a 53-year-old German man, named as Christian Steffen, were ultimately arrested and the children placed in care. Investigators were concerned the children seemed unsteady as they walked outside for the first time in years - almost half the length of their lives. 'When we took them out of the house, into the garden, where they didn't even want to go outside, they saw a snail and went crazy,' one officer told El Mundo. 'They were scared.' 'We have given three children back their lives,' said Chief Inspector Francisco Javier Lozano after the raid. 'At first, there was nothing particularly striking,' Lozano said of their call to the house on Monday. But the parents started behaving strangely when they asked to come in. The bespectacled, bearded man identified as their father described himself on LinkedIn as a former philosophy student with a doctorate from Hamburg University who was currently working as a freelance senior tech recruiter and HR manager. 'He was disheveled, barefoot. He asked us to wear masks and keep our distance,' one officer told El Espanol. 'He immediately said there were minors in the house. But to our surprise, not only did that happen, but neither parent denied that they had been isolated for years, nor did they show any special knowledge of having done anything wrong.' When they were allegedly allowed to enter the property, they noted that the parents put 'up to three masks on the children' before letting them in, El Mundo reports. The mother told the officers to be careful as her children were very sick. The three young boys were freed having apparently lived solely inside the house since December 2021, at the height of the pandemic. An investigating source said the parents bought medication containing THC, the main psychoactive element in cannabis, on the black market and gave it to the children as treatment for ADHD. The minors were barefoot, wearing diapers and still sleeping in cribs. When they wanted to take them out of the building, they did not even have shoes of their size, since they had not been bought shoes for years. The motivation of the parents for keeping the children locked in their own home is not yet known. Investigators speaking to El Comercio suggested that the parents suffered from 'Covid syndrome' and lived in fear of the virus. The German-American mother, 48, reportedly told police that she and her German husband, reportedly a philosopher from Hamburg, thought it was the best way to keep them safe. Inside the house, police found a large supply of ADHD medicine and face masks. The children were kept out of school and forbidden from leaving the house. Doors were locked and the windows were permanently closed. The children were not even allowed to go into the garden. El Mundo, citing local testimonies, said the father always went to the gate of the property wearing a mask, both to pick up takeaway deliveries and mail. Police said when the children were freed, one of them knelt on the grass and 'touched it with amazement'. Over the years, the children were kept so hidden that even neighbours did not realise they were in the house. The husband and wife duo are now being held in custody without bail pending further investigations following the discovery of the children. The operation and investigation into the children began on April 14 after a resident of the area raised the alarm. The woman had heard voices that sounded like children coming from the house although she had never seen anyone leave the home to play or go to school. The blinds were always closed and there was no clear sign of life, neighbours said. 'Honestly, I don't remember knowing it was inhabited. The blinds were always down, no noise, no cars. Nothing to indicate life,' said Rafael Ruiz, who lived opposite. But, after several days of surveillance, investigators were clear that more than one person had to live there. They saw movement through the few windows that were not closed, and assessed somebody must be inside from the number of boxes of food orders that the man brought into the home. The chief commissioner of the Local Police of Oviedo, Francisco Javier Lozano, gave a press conference on Wednesday in which he explained the details of the operation that saw the arrest of the couple at 2.45pm on Monday. The initial search of the house was made more difficult because Spain had been plunged into darkness by an electricity outrage. When police 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 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. 'They had three masks each on top of each other. They were oblivious to any contact with reality.' At the moment, the reasons that led this family to live in captivity since 2021 and in unsanitary conditions inside the Asturian villa are unknown. The children spoke mostly in English. After being evaluated at the Central University Hospital of Asturias, they have been placed under the guardianship of the Government of the Principality. It is not ruled out that their parents will be charged with crimes of habitual abuse, abandonment of minors, and against fundamental rights. As a summary of the operation, the chief commissioner of the Local Police of Oviedo, Francisco Javier López Lozano said: 'We have dismantled the house of horrors'. Social care minister Marta del Arco told El Comercio that the evaluation of the boys shows they are 'doing okay physically', however the psychological assessment is yet to be completed. Flor Gonzalez Muñiz, spokesperson for the Professional Association of Social Education of the Principality of Asturias, added that the parents repeatedly told the youngsters the outside world was 'harmful' to them. The expert has been closely monitoring the case since it first came onto the authorities' radar on April 14. She said the parents began the self-isolation during the sixth wave of the pandemic and told the boys they had serious health problems, stocking up on a variety of medications to give them, despite no professional diagnoses from healthcare professionals. This included making them wear masks, up to three at a time. Since being freed, according to Muñiz, the two youngest - twins aged eight - are adapting well to living without masks, however the eldest brother, aged 10, is a little more 'reticent'. She said: 'The little ones took them off and were free, but the older one eats and puts it back on… 'It's not so easy to break down the discourse they've received for so long from their parents… children are less aware of the risk the younger they are… so it's normal that the eldest needs to check more than the other two that nothing (untoward) is happening and to gain trust.' The expert said the damage caused to the trio is 'very serious' but 'not irreversible'. She believes the fact there are three of them will help the brothers 'become a close group.' She added: 'They have an opportunity right now; childhood has that flexibility: If you work correctly, even if there may be after-effects, because this is something they will carry with them forever, they will be able to reach adulthood with the guarantee of a full life… 'Now, we must begin therapeutic work from the socio-educational perspective, on a daily basis, to normalise such basic things as toilet training (they wore diapers), grooming and hygiene, going outside, socialising, and also seeking the progressive development of their autonomy.'
Scottish Sun
02-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Chilling ‘screaming' drawings of 3 children held captive for 4 years since Covid by ‘germaphobe' parents in Spain
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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 forced to stay inside by their parents for four years for fears of catching the virus. 9 A screaming red monster drawn on the bed by one of the young boys 9 A skull and cross bones drawn on the bed by one of the children Credit: Spanish Police 9 Cops freed three young children from a house where they had been held captive since the pandemic Credit: Solarpix 9 Christian Steffen, 53, has been arrested alongside his wife for alleged child abuse Credit: Solarpix Pictures from inside the house in Oviedo show the boys' caged beds covered in horrifying drawings. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 'They saw a snail and they were completely taken aback.' 9 The boys have now been placed under the guardianship of the Government of the Principality 9 The cops were horrified by what they found inside the house 9 The children were forbidden to leave the house 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. "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. 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. 9 The cops launched an investigation after a resident raised concerns that there may be people inside the house Credit: EPA
The Irish Sun
02-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
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. Advertisement 9 A screaming red monster drawn on the bed by one of the young boys 9 A skull and cross bones drawn on the bed by one of the children Credit: Spanish Police 9 Cops freed three young children from a house where they had been held captive since the pandemic Credit: Solarpix 9 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. Advertisement read more on Spain 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. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 'They saw a snail and they were completely taken aback.' 9 The boys have now been placed under the guardianship of the Government of the Principality 9 The cops were horrified by what they found inside the house 9 The children were forbidden to leave the house Advertisement 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. Advertisement "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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 9 The cops launched an investigation after a resident raised concerns that there may be people inside the house Credit: EPA 9 The family's house in Oviedo, northern Spain Credit: AFP
The Sun
02-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
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 forced to stay inside by their parents for four years for fears of catching the virus. 9 9 9 9 Pictures from inside the house in Oviedo show the boys' caged beds covered in horrifying drawings. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 'They saw a snail and they were completely taken aback.' 9 9 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. "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. 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. 9 9
