Police rescue 14-year-old boy 'locked up at home since birth' by parents
The teenager was allegedly forced to live in a cage for some of the time
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A 14-year-old boy whose parents allegedly kept him confined in the family home for his entire life has been freed and taken into care.
Police in the Israeli city of Hadera said said they found the teenager “in a severe state of neglect” after they broke into the apartment.
Called in by neighbours because of the stench emanating from building, officers said they had expected to find a body. Instead they found the boy and his parents, both of whom are in their 60s.
Investigators quickly established that the teenager was sometimes kept in a homemade cage made of scrap metal outside the apartment. He was let out at night into a nearby courtyard once or twice a month.
His parents, who are believed to be from Russia, moved to Hadera eight years ago. They failed to register that they had a child with the local government.
During police questioning, they denied they had abused their son and claimed that serious medical problems had made his confinement necessary.
A neighbour told local army radio he called the authorities after seeing the boy through a window looking like “a zombie in a horror film”.
He said: “I saw his eyes and the way he looked, which said ‘help me'."
Investigators concluded the parents did not intend to harm the child and they were released on probation.
The boy is being cared for by social services while he undergoes a thorough medical examination.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments