German-American Couple Charged for Sons' Captivity in Spain

Spanish police in Oviedo rescued three children—8-year-old twins and their 10-year-old brother—who had been held captive by their parents, Christian Steffen (German) and Melissa Ann Steffen (American-German), since 2021, well after COVID-19 lockdowns ended. The children were found living in filthy conditions filled with garbage, medication, and pet excrement, forced to wear multiple face masks and diapers, and sleep in caged beds. Neighbors reported the situation after not seeing the children outside or in school. Investigators described the children as dirty, emotionally disconnected, and astonished by basic outdoor experiences when freed. The parents, reportedly suffering from extreme COVID-19 fears and enforcing strict schedules, were arrested and charged with domestic violence, psychological abuse, and child abandonment; they remain in pretrial detention without bail. The children have been placed in government custody for medical evaluation.