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TWO “ghost” kids found living in squalor in the woods unable to speak after severe neglect are to be put up for adoption, the authorities said.
The pair’s father allegedly cut them off from the world after becoming “obsessed” with Covid, but they were discovered in the northern Italian countryside by horrified cops.
The “filthy” kids, aged nine and six, were still wearing nappies, not attending school, and able to communicate only in their own primitive language.
They had never been officially registered and were completely off-grid – prompting the “ghost children” label from local media.
Their dad, named only as 54-year-old Dutch national Frederik, claimed he isolated them in their “bunker” home near Lauriano to prevent them from catching Covid.
He insisted they were being home-schooled in English and Italian using material he found online after the kids were discovered in April, it is understood.
Frederik also claimed that he had been intending to register the kids – but never got round to it.
The dad said: “I’m not a paranoid person who wants to hide from the world. I just enjoy doing things alone and spending time with my family.”
However, his explanations for keeping his children in miserable isolation have not convinced the authorities.
They were initially taken into state care, and now it has been confirmed they will be put up for adoption.
It’s unclear whether this will allow regular prospective parents to take custody of the children – whether it will lead to them being put into specialist care.
Frederik told local newspaper Corriere Torino: “My wife and I provide them with everything they need.
“They have lots of toys, each their own laptop, lots of musical instruments and their own ski equipment.
“They go pony riding at the stables and spend a lot of time outdoors in restaurants and museums.”
The children were reportedly born in Germany before being moved over to a town in Turin.
Harrowing images of the ramshackle farm show random broken and abandoned furniture thrown outside and derelict trampolines that had clearly been left to rot.
Rubbish was also captured strewn across the garden.
The reclusive family was only discovered when cops arrived at their hillside farm to evacuate them after a flooding alert.
The Turin Juvenile Court ordered the immediate removal of the children from their parents.
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.”
During the removal process, concerns were raised about their mum, who is said to have shown little interest in her own kids, NL Times reports.
It’s thought she is homeless, the site added.
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 also reportedly spoke of meeting the dad once and described him as being “very reserved” who was unable to speak Italian.
Residents of the town near the farm shared their shock at learning of the children’s existence.
Frederik’s explanation
FREDERIK claimed his children were registered in Germany and that he and his wife decided to move to Italy three years ago.
He told reporters: “I’ll explain […] we bought this land three years ago for €120,000. The idea was to move from Germany, where we lived.
“During this period, we went back and forth because before settling in Italy, I had to fix up the house.
“Three months before the flood, we finally moved in. During this whole period, we still gave the children an education, in English and Italian, using some websites.
“I know, we should have reported them to the Municipality, the intention was to do it soon, but my wife has health problems and there was no time.
“They are not ghosts, they have a name and surname and are registered in Germany.”
Frederik also said that he is financially stable: “We still have a house in Germany, my grandfather has others in the Netherlands and I earn money by renting them out.
“I invested another €100,000 in this house.”
