A POLISH woman has been discovered in a shocking state after allegedly being locked in a tiny room by her parents for nearly three decades.
Mirella, now 42, was just 15-years-old when she vanished from public life in 1998.
Mirella, 42, has been discovered in a shocking state after allegedly being locked in a room for three decadesUnknown
The Polish woman was found ‘days away from death’Unknown
She lived in the city of Świętochłowice, in southern Poland.
Her parents reportedly told neighbours at the time that their teenage daughter had gone missing. For years, no one questioned it.
But this summer, police stumbled upon the horrifying truth.
Officers were called to an apartment block in July after residents heard a disturbance coming from inside.
When they knocked on the door, the elderly landlady, 82, denied anything unusual was going on.
Cops then spoke to Mirella directly. She reassured them that “everything was fine”.
But officers quickly noticed severe injuries on her legs and decided to call and ambulance.
She was rushed to hospital – and doctors determined she was just “days away from death” from infection.
Although Mirella’s discovery took place in July, the shocking case has only now come to light after locals launched a fundraiser to help her recover.
One of the organisers posted online: “Doctors determined that she was only days away from death due to infection.
“She has been in hospital for two months now due to her critical condition.
“People who knew Mirella thought she left her ‘family’ home almost 30 years ago.
The emaciated woman was discovered by cops. Police had been called to an apartment block back in July after neighbours reported hearing a disturbance.Unknown
“People who knew Mirella thought she left her ‘family’ home almost 30 years ago.
“Unfortunately, the truth turned out to be different.
“Much remains unknown, and several facts cannot be revealed at this stage. One thing is certain: the truth must come to light as to why this young, healthy 15-year-old stopped leaving her home and disappeared without a trace.
“It is unimaginable to spend so much time in one room.
“She herself says that she has never even seen her city develop, that it is behind in everything, that she has missed out on so many things, she has never been to a doctor, never obtained an ID card, never gone for a simple walk or even to the balcony…
“She’s never been to a dentist or a hairdresser.
“Her hair and teeth are in critical condition, even threatening her health, so visits to a private clinic are now necessary.”
Mirella’s nightmare began when she was just a teenager. Her parents allegedly confined her to a small room in their flat and cut her off from the outside world completely.
For 27 years, neighbours believed the couple’s story that their daughter was missing.
Residents assumed only two people lived in the flat: the elderly couple.
Her ordeal only came to an end at the end of July when neighbours heard noises and alerted the emergency services.
When police and paramedics entered the second-floor apartment, they were met with a devastating scene.
Witnesses said Mirella looked “extremely neglected,” and her legs “appeared to be necrotic.”
One neighbour said: “It’s unbelievable. I remember Mirella as a teenager. We used to play in front of the building when I visited my grandmother for the holidays.
“Then she suddenly disappeared under mysterious circumstances.”
After she was rescued, Mirella spent two months in hospital fighting for her life.
Authorities have now launched a criminal investigation.
Prosecutor Agnieszka Kwatera confirmed that the case is being formally investigated.
Junior Asp. Anna Hryniak from the Municipal Police Headquarters in Świętochłowice told Fakt: “After our intervention and transporting the woman to the hospital, the district police officer contacted the Social Welfare Center.
“We are awaiting feedback on this woman’s situation from the Social Welfare Center so we can take further action.”
It is not yet clear what legal consequences Mirella’s parents will face.
The shocking discovery comes just days after a separate case made headlines in Brazil.
Authorities were tipped off anonymously and found the child in a state of neglect. She had never been to school, received no vaccinations, and could not speak.
Child protection counsellor Ligia Guerra said: “The girl was very apathetic and dazzled by everything.”
She added that the child’s hair was “tangled” and looked “as if it had never been washed.”
The girl had reportedly eaten nothing that day and survived only on liquids.
She communicated with police and counsellors through sounds rather than words.
The child was immediately taken to hospital for medical checks before being moved to a children’s home.
Both cases have horrified the public and raised questions about how such extreme abuse can go unnoticed for so long.
She lived in the city of Świętochłowice, in southern PolandGetty
Her ordeal only came to an end at the end of July when neighbours heard noises and alerted the emergency servicesGetty Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
