A shocking case out of Poland is making headlines around the world after a woman was discovered living inside her parents’ home nearly three decades after she vanished as a teenager.
The woman, identified by local media only as Mirella, is now 42 years old. She disappeared at 15, and for years, her parents told neighbors and authorities she had gone missing. In July, police responding to a domestic disturbance at her family’s house in Świętochłowice, about 180 miles from Warsaw, made the stunning discovery.
When an officer arrived at the home, Mirella’s 81-year-old mother insisted everything was fine. Mirella, who appeared weak and injured, also claimed nothing was wrong. But the officer noticed alarming wounds on her legs and immediately called for medical help.
Mirella was rushed to the hospital, where doctors determined she was only “days away from death due to infection,” according to a fundraiser created by neighbors. She was described as severely emaciated and suffering from open leg wounds.
Mirella has since told authorities that she wasn’t being held against her will and was returned to her parents’ home after being released from the hospital.
Prosecutors have opened an investigation into possible abuse, but so far no charges have been filed. The strange and disturbing case has raised many unanswered questions about how Mirella could remain hidden for nearly 27 years without anyone intervening.