Overview

• Three German children, aged 8 to 10, were rescued from a home in Oviedo, Spain, after being confined by their parents since late 2021.
• The parents, now in pretrial detention and undergoing psychiatric evaluation, face charges including illegal imprisonment, child endangerment, and psychological abuse.
• Authorities believe the parents’ extreme fear of COVID-19 motivated the isolation, with the family reportedly fleeing Germany after a homeschooling exemption was denied.
• The children, who lived in unhygienic conditions despite signs of obsessive cleanliness, are physically stable but awaiting psychological evaluation in a regional care facility.
• Spanish officials are working to locate relatives in Germany who could assume custody of the children, as investigations into the case continue.