“Ghost children” discovered in Italy: siblings lived isolated, in diapers, and nonverbal

A nine-year-old boy and his seven-year-old sister have been found living hidden away on a remote farm still wearing nappies and only able to speak in their own primitive language.

The siblings were said to be ‘filthy’ when discovered by horrified officers during an evacuation of a dilapidated property near Lauriano, outside Turin, Italy, during flooding in April.

Their parents never registered them with health officials or schools, with local media reports labelling them ‘ghost children’ due to their existence cut off from the outside world.

Local media reports say their 54-year-old sculptor father and 38-year-old mother are both Dutch nationals. The children were reportedly born in Germany and later taken to Italy where they lived in the woods.

Their dad claimed he was homeschooling the pair, despite neither of them being able to read or write, local media reports.

Citing fears of infections like Covid-19, he told Italian newspaper Corriere Torino: ‘I love my children, I just wanted to protect them.’

The man insisted the children had access to laptops, musical instruments, and even went skiing and horse riding – but authorities quickly realised the children could neither read nor write.

Photographs of the ramshackle farm show broken and abandoned furniture, a derelict trampoline and rubbish strewn across the garden (Picture: NX)

Both children were immediately taken into care following an emergency order from the Turin Juvenile Court.

It said in its ruling: ‘There are facts that suggest that the minors are deprived of adequate assistance from their parents or relatives who are required to provide it.’

Arrangements are made for the children to be taken into foster care.

Local mayor Mara Baccolla said: ‘It is a very delicate matter. These children can finally find a balance and have access to a life worthy of the name.’

She described the father as appearing ‘very reserved’ and unable to speak Italian. 

The mayor said the father managed to isolate the family by renovating the farmhouse to make it ‘independent from an energy and water point of view’.

Neighbours have shared their shock at the children’s existence.

While some noticed the farmhouse changing hands, none said they ever saw or heard youngsters inside.

It is unclear if the parents face further action.