Grandparents Kept Granddaughter Locked Away for 8 Years in Germany

In Germany, law enforcement officials have discovered an 8-year-old girl who has spent nearly her entire life locked away. This was reported by The Guardian.

The girl, referred to by local media as "Maria," was separated from her father immediately after birth. When she was about six months old, her mother left a note for the girl’s father stating that she was planning to move to Italy with her daughter.

Authorities tried to locate the girl and her mother for several years but only found a trace of the child in 2022.

It was revealed that the girl had never crossed the country’s borders and had been living with her grandparents during all those years. Investigators discovered that the child had never left her relatives' house.

During a medical examination, doctors found no signs of physical abuse or malnutrition. However, the girl is physically underdeveloped and cannot climb stairs independently.

Currently, the girl’s mother, grandmother, and grandfather are being charged with unlawful imprisonment of a minor and cruel treatment. The reasons why the defendants kept the child locked away for so many years remain unclear.