Why no one questioned whereabouts of skeletal woman 'locked in parents room' for 27 years

There's a reason why nobody questioned the disappearance of a teenager 27 years ago, as she was discovered locked in a room in her parents' home this year.

Known publicly as 'Mirella', the woman was found aged 42 in Swietochlowice, Poland, and has described as looking 'like an old lady', almost three decades on from neighbours last seeing her.

She was 'emaciated, with leg wounds reaching to the bone', according to reports from local publication Fakt, as she had spent most of her life trapped in one room with no contact with the outside world, until she was discovered on the night of 29 July this year.

Police were called to the home after reports of a disturbance and found the wounded middle-aged woman.

They promptly called an ambulance despite the 82-year-old landlady and Mirella saying that she was fine, as she would be treated in hospital for her injuries.

The woman was 'days' away from dying when she was found (Pomagan.pl)

Health professionals discovered that Mirella was actually 'days away from death' due to an infection, with her needing to stay in hospital for the next two months to receive treatment and recover.

It begs the question - after being found unwell after last appearing as a 'healthy teenager' according to a neighbour, why didn't anyone question her whereabouts?

According to those in the neighbourhood, when Mirella vanished in 1997, her parents said that she was missing.

But according to those who wanted to find out more, they asked the parents why nobody was looking for her, and they told them that Mirella had been sent back to live with her biological parents.

So while most believed she had disappeared, others believed that she was safely in the care of her biological mum and dad.

Recalling the incident, neighbour Luiza told Fakt: "We were shocked when the police and paramedics took Mirella out of the apartment. She looked like an old lady, neglected, with wounds on her legs.

"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."

The 42-year-old had to spend two months recovering in hospital (Pomagan.pl)

Mirella has never seen a doctor, hairdresser, or even been issued an ID card, say the publication, and many wonder if legal action will be taken against the parents.

Police have since stated that they are waiting for instruction from a social welfare centre before anything else can happen.

Anna Hryniak of the Świętochłowice police stated: “After our intervention and transporting the woman to the hospital, the district police officer contacted the Social Welfare Centre. We are awaiting feedback from the Social Welfare Centre regarding this woman’s situation in order to take further action.

“This person was not listed in our database as missing or wanted. I can confirm that only in recent days, after an intervention, was this person issued an ID card. She did not have such a document before.”

The neighbour and her friends started visiting Mirella in hospital and have started a fundraiser to help the woman out, which can be found here.