Dutch father defends isolated parenting after children found neglected in Italy
The father of the two Dutch children found living in severe neglect in northern Italy has spoken publicly, defending his approach to raising them, RTL reports.
The 53-year-old Dutch man, who recently settled near Chivasso in the village of Lauriano, told the Italian newspaper Corriere Torino, “I love my children, I just wanted to protect them.”
Authorities discovered the 6- and 9-year-old siblings — named Rayan and Noha — after the Carabinieri, Italy’s military police, arrived at the isolated farmhouse in early April to deliver an evacuation order amid regional flooding. The children, reportedly born in Germany, were not registered with any local authorities and were found unable to speak, read, or write, still wearing diapers at their ages.
Italian media called the siblings “ghost children” because their existence was unknown to neighbors and local officials. The juvenile court in Turin ruled that the parents were unfit and placed the children into protective custody. During the removal process, concerns surfaced about the mother, 38, who reportedly showed little interest in the children and was often absent. She is believed to be homeless.
The father explained his decision to raise the children in isolation was motivated by fears of viral infections such as COVID-19. He said the children had “a lot of toys, each their own laptop, many musical instruments, and good ski equipment.” He added they often rode horses at a local riding school and visited restaurants and museums.
Residents of Chivasso, a town of roughly 1,400 people near the farm, expressed shock that no one had known about the children or their living conditions. Although some knew the farmhouse had changed owners, nobody had visited the property since.
Lauriano Mayor Mara Baccolla described the case as “very delicate.” She recalled meeting the father once and described him as “very reserved” and unable to speak Italian. The remote farmhouse was made energy- and water-independent by the father, allowing the family to live fully isolated.
