Children Discovered in Northern Italy after Years of Absence
In a shocking turn of events, two Dutch siblings, aged 6 and 9, were discovered living in severe neglect in the remote Italian village of Lauriano, near Turin, in April 2025. The children, later identified as Rayan and Noha, were found during a flood evacuation by Italian Carabinieri.
The brothers, who were unregistered with local authorities and had never attended school, lived in poor hygienic conditions on a farm. They were unable to speak and still wore diapers at their ages. The case was not known in Italy until now, sparking significant public reaction.
The father, a 54-year-old sculptor, defended his isolated parenting approach, citing fears of viral infections like COVID-19 as the reason for keeping the children isolated. He claimed to have provided them with toys, laptops, musical instruments, and opportunities to ride horses and visit museums. The mother, 38, was reportedly often absent and showed little interest in the children, believed to be homeless.
Following the discovery, the juvenile court in Turin has ruled that the parents are unfit to care for the children. Adoption proceedings have been initiated, and the siblings are currently in a protected facility. The news was reported by both "Corriere della Sera" and "Bild" newspapers on Friday.
The father, who was reportedly "obsessed" with Corona, refused to vaccinate his children or let them wear masks. No one in the village of Lauriano had noticed the children before they were discovered by police. The children had no registered names before their discovery.
The brothers were born in Germany, as reported by the Italian local edition of the daily newspaper "Corriere della Sera". The discovery of the children was made during a search of a farmhouse. The boys were discovered by police in the village of Lauriano, which is about 30 kilometers from Turin.
The case has sparked significant public reaction in Italy, with the children being referred to as “ghost children” due to their unknown existence to locals and authorities. The children's current status is that they are in the care of social services and living in a protected facility. The exact birthplace of the brothers remains unknown.
Science may examine the long-term effects of the siblings' isolated upbringing on their health-and-wellness, including their mental-health development. This incident could lead to general-news discussions on the importance of early education and proper child care, highlighting the dangers of neglect and seclusion. The crime-and-justice system will determine the legal consequences for the parents, considering theirrefusal to follow public health guidelines such as vaccinations and mask-wearing.
