A woman, aged 42, was found in an extremely weakened state, close to death, as she had reportedly been confined to her room for 27 years by her parents. Identified only as Mirrella, she was last seen in public in 1998 at the age of 15 in the town of Świętochłowice, located in southern Poland. Allegedly, the local community was informed that she had disappeared, but nearly three decades later, she was discovered without ever receiving dental or hair care.
The situation came to light in July when police responded to a disturbance call from neighbors at an apartment complex. Despite the 82-year-old landlady denying any altercation, Deputy Inspector Anna Hryniak confirmed that an ambulance was called for Mirrella after police noticed her injuries, even though she claimed there was no issue.
Following the incident, community members initiated a fundraising campaign to support the woman, with one individual sharing on social media that doctors had determined she was on the brink of death due to an infection. She has been hospitalized for two months due to her critical condition.
People who knew Mirrella believed she had left her family home nearly 30 years ago, but the reality turned out to be different. Many details remain undisclosed, but it is crucial to uncover why this once healthy 15-year-old stopped leaving her home abruptly.
The woman expressed her disbelief at spending such a long time confined to one room, mentioning that she missed out on witnessing her city’s progress, never visiting a doctor, obtaining an ID card, taking a simple walk, or even stepping onto a balcony. She had never experienced dental or hair care, and her current state requires urgent attention from a private clinic, as confirmed by Prosecutor Agnieszka Kwatera, who announced an ongoing investigation.
This incident follows a similar case where a six-year-old girl, who had been kept isolated in her room since birth, was rescued by authorities in September. Found in deplorable conditions, the child was rescued after an anonymous tip alerted authorities to her situation. She was discovered in a dark, dirty room with only a teddy bear for company, surviving on a liquid-only diet and lacking basic education and communication skills.
Due to her inability to speak, the girl communicated with child protection counselors through basic sounds. In addition to developmental delays, she was diagnosed with infections and severe malnutrition, having missed her childhood vaccinations. The neglectful circumstances were uncovered in the family home in Sorocaba, Brazil.