Spanish authorities have arrested a German-American couple accused of keeping their three children in near-total isolation inside a rented home in Oviedo for over two years.
Local police say the children, aged 10 and 8-year-old twins, had not left the residence since at least 2021, prompting criminal charges against the parents.
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The incident came to light last month when a neighbor contacted authorities, reporting that the children had not been seen attending school and had not been visible in the neighborhood since late 2021.
Other neighbors confirmed the family’s absence and said they had only heard the children from within the home.
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The couple—identified as 53-year-old Christian Steffen, a German national, and 48-year-old Melissa Ann, who holds both German and American citizenship—reportedly rented the home in October 2021.
Police began monitoring the property and noted that only the father was observed leaving the residence, typically to collect mail or groceries.
No other members of the household were seen outside.
Authorities made contact with the family earlier this week and were eventually allowed into the home.
According to police, the father initially delayed entry, telling officers to wait, while the mother claimed the children were “very sick.”
She insisted the children wear at least three masks each before meeting the officers and asked that the officers wear masks inside as well.
Contrary to the mother’s claim, the children were not sick, but police described them as being in extremely unhygienic conditions.
Officers reported that the children were dirty, appeared fearful of strangers, and were confined to cribs designed for infants.
The children wore diapers, had no properly fitting shoes, and slept in a cluttered and unsanitary space reportedly filled with medication, trash, and even feces.
Disturbing items such as “defaced monsters and dolls” were found in the children’s bedrooms.
Upon being escorted outside, officers said the children reacted as if they were unfamiliar with the outdoors.
According to the police report, the children breathed deeply, touched grass with wonder, and panicked upon seeing a snail in the garden.
The children were taken to a local hospital for evaluation and are now under the care of Spain’s Ministry of Welfare.
They are currently residing in a juvenile center while investigations continue.
Despite the alarming conditions, officers said the children were physically nourished and had access to basic academic instruction in a designated study area in the home.
However, they displayed signs of psychological trauma and intense fear of unfamiliar people.
Both parents have been arrested and are facing charges of domestic violence, child abandonment, and habitual psychological abuse.
They are currently being held without bail.
Police described the situation as “completely cut off from reality,” and attributed the behavior to what they referred to as “COVID syndrome,” suggesting the parents’ decisions may have stemmed from pandemic-related mental health deterioration.
Authorities identified the father as a former philosophy student with a doctorate from Hamburg University, working most recently as a freelance senior tech recruiter and human resources manager.
Police noted that both parents openly admitted the children had not left the house in years, and appeared confused as to why that would be considered unlawful.
The investigation is ongoing.
The children remain in protective care as Spanish welfare authorities assess their condition and long-term needs.
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