In a disturbing revelation that has shocked the international community, 3 Boys Found Living in Cages in horrific conditions by their parents since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
The children—8-year-old twin boys and their 10-year-old brother—were discovered in what police described as a “house of horror” in Oviedo, a city in northern Spain. The discovery, made in late April 2025, has highlighted deep concerns over child abuse, mental health, and the limits of pandemic isolation.
Years of Isolation and Abuse Inside the ‘House of Horror’
The horror story unfolded when Spanish police, responding to a separate issue related to a nationwide power outage, stumbled upon the unimaginable. The house, rented by a German-American couple since October 2021, was located on the outskirts of Oviedo.
Inside, officers found the three boys confined in appalling conditions: the house was described as completely filled with garbage, and the children were kept in caged beds, denied access even to the garden.
The couple—identified only as a 53-year-old German man and a 48-year-old woman, both holding dual German and American citizenship—had kept the boys locked away since December 2021.
Authorities confirmed that the children had not stepped outside the home during that entire time. The police found them malnourished, emotionally distressed, and physically weakened. The boys were also reportedly made to wear diapers and face masks while confined indoors.
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As the officers removed them from the house, witnesses described a heartbreaking scene: the boys began gasping for air as if they had not breathed fresh air in years. The police noted that they were entirely cut off from the outside world—no schooling, no outdoor activities, and no social interaction beyond their parents.
Police also discovered a large cache of medication within the home, raising further questions about the treatment—or mistreatment—of the children. While the exact nature of the drugs has not been disclosed, authorities are investigating whether the medication was used to sedate or control the children over the long period of confinement.
Warning Signs Ignored and a Shocking Discovery
The tragedy of these boys’ plight is made even more unsettling by the fact that warning signs existed long before the rescue. A neighbor had reportedly informed local police that the children did not attend school and had not been seen outside the home. Despite this, no immediate action was taken at the time. The reason for the inaction remains unclear and is now part of an internal investigation into potential oversight or negligence by local authorities.
It was only during a massive power outage in Spain in April 2025 that the situation took a critical turn. The police, conducting routine checks during the blackout, visited the couple’s house. When the officers arrived, the couple insisted that they wear face masks before entering, a demand that raised suspicion given the apparent end of strict COVID-19 protocols years earlier.
Upon entering, the police were met with an overwhelming stench, piles of trash, and a chaotic environment that immediately raised red flags. It was then that they discovered the boys locked in caged beds. These beds were reportedly more like prison cells than sleeping arrangements, and the boys’ physical and emotional condition clearly reflected the trauma they had endured over the past three years.
Chief Superintendent Francisco Javier Lozano, speaking to the media, called the home a “house of horror” and stated that it was among the worst cases of child abuse he had seen in his career. He described the atmosphere as suffocating and unsanitary, a place where no child should ever be forced to live.
Following the discovery, the couple was arrested immediately. The children were taken into protective custody and transferred to a state care facility where they are now receiving medical attention, psychological support, and proper nourishment. Authorities have yet to determine the couple’s motives or psychological state, but further investigations are underway.
A Larger Conversation on Child Welfare Post-Pandemic
The Oviedo incident has reignited important discussions about child welfare, mental health, and the unintended consequences of extended isolation during the pandemic. While lockdowns and social distancing measures were essential in slowing the spread of COVID-19, they also created an environment where vulnerable individuals, particularly children, could be hidden from public view and denied the help they desperately needed.
Many experts are now calling for better mechanisms to monitor children’s well-being, especially in homeschooling or isolated household scenarios. The fact that these boys were not enrolled in school and never taken to public spaces should have raised more immediate red flags. The incident suggests that there may be gaps in how social services and local authorities respond to such unusual patterns of behavior.
Furthermore, the case has drawn international attention due to the couple’s dual German-American citizenship, raising questions about how they were able to avoid scrutiny for so long. Investigators are also examining whether the couple had any history of mental illness or ideological beliefs that could have led them to isolate their children so severely.
In the wake of this revelation, child protection services across Europe have been urged to review current cases and reports to ensure that no other children are enduring similar conditions. Non-governmental organizations and human rights groups have also called for greater collaboration between nations to monitor the welfare of children, especially in expat communities where language and legal barriers may complicate intervention.
Spain’s government has pledged a full inquiry into the case and the systems that failed to detect such abuse for over three years. Local officials have admitted that the neighbor’s earlier complaint should have triggered a more thorough investigation, and reforms are being considered to prevent future tragedies.
As the boys begin their long journey to recovery, the world watches with a mix of horror and hope. Their story serves as a painful reminder that even in modern societies, abuse can be hidden in plain sight—and that vigilance, compassion, and systemic reform are necessary to protect the most vulnerable among us.