Three young children have been rescued from what’s been described as a “house of horrors” in Oviedo, Spain — after reportedly being locked inside for over three years by their own parents.
The story has shocked people around the world, with disturbing details emerging of how the kids were forced to live under extreme COVID-style rules long after the pandemic ended.
Here’s everything we know so far about the case…
When were the children discovered — and how?
The children were rescued on Monday, April 28, after a neighbour raised concerns with local authorities two weeks earlier. According to reports, the neighbour had noticed that the children had not been attending school and hadn’t been seen in public for an extended period of time.
While there was nothing suspicious at first glance, police began monitoring the home and soon realized something was seriously wrong. Surveillance showed only the father ever left the house — to pick up mail and groceries — while the rest of the family remained completely out of sight, per PEOPLE.
That, paired with further complaints from other neighbours who hadn’t seen the family since late 2021, was enough for police to intervene.