A woman who disappeared at age 15 has been found emaciated, with reports claiming her parents kept her locked inside their home for nearly three decades.
The woman, identified only as Mirella, was discovered in July inside a residence in Świętochłowice, Poland, according to local outlet Fakt.
She vanished in the late 1990s, with neighbors recalling that her parents claimed she had gone missing. Some were later told she had reunited with her biological parents.
Mirella is now 42 and insists she was not held against her will.
Police Say They Cannot Yet Confirm Abuse
In a statement on October 14, police said that their investigation so far does not “clearly indicate” that she was forcibly confined, per PEOPLE.
Authorities are examining whether she experienced possible psychological and physical abuse, according to local prosecutor Sabina Kuśmierska, who told Fakt: “We are collecting evidence and will verify all statements."
"There are many threads in this case; we have not yet interviewed her parents or neighbors. We are conducting the investigation for possible psychological and physical abuse," they added.
Mirella had reportedly been living in the home without leaving for years. “I haven't gone out for a long time, I can't remember,” she reportedly told Fakt.
She was discovered after police responded to reports of a domestic quarrel at the property on July 29. Officers encountered Mirella’s 81-year-old mother, who said she had been arguing with her husband, though he was not present. When officers noticed signs of poor health, emergency services were called.
Mirella was transported to the hospital, treated, and then returned to her parents’ home, local media reported.
Neighbors Claim They Were Misled for Decades
Residents of the building told the media they believed Mirella had disappeared or been kidnapped, as her parents repeatedly claimed she was gone. In some cases, they allegedly said she was living elsewhere with biological relatives.
According to Fakt, neighbors had suspected something was wrong after hearing unexplained “voices” from the apartment. Some now claim she was confined to a small room without access to basic hygiene.
Luiza, a neighbor involved in a community fundraiser, recalled: “I remember her from childhood. She was a normal, healthy child; we ran around the yard, climbing trees, and nothing ever happened to her. She was a healthy teenager.”
When found, Mirella was emaciated and suffering from serious medical problems, including a condition affecting her legs that caused “excruciating pain” even from light contact. Doctors reportedly determined she had been “days away from death” due to infection, per ABC 6.
Neighbors and friends have since launched a fundraiser to help her recover and rebuild her life, writing in the description (translated from Polish to English): "She's fortunate that despite her situation, she's connected to the world, able to express herself, and has the chance to live the rest of her life to the fullest. She's very outgoing and curious about the world, but she needs to be provided with everything she hasn't had before."
Authorities have not filed charges yet.