Siblings Held Captive for Decades in Suwałki: Two Women Charged

Following reports of siblings being isolated at home for over 30 years in a small village near Suwałki, authorities have charged two local women with severe neglect and abuse.

Decades of Isolation

The case concerning the siblings, Janusz and Marzena, was reported on Thursday, June 18. Now 47 years old, the pair vanished from public view in their village in the mid-1990s shortly after completing primary school. Family members previously claimed to neighbors that the daughter had entered a convent in Sejny and the son had moved abroad for work.

Suspicions intensified in January following the death of their father, Jan Z. The siblings did not appear at the funeral, and their mother provided contradictory explanations for their absence. An anonymous report to the police later alleged that the children had been imprisoned in the family home for their entire lives.

Ongoing Prosecutorial Investigation

The Suwałki District Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation after receiving a report via the National Security Threat Map. Authorities searched the residential property and outbuildings to verify claims that the siblings were kept in dire conditions, potentially in the attic or basement. Both victims are now under medical care in a psychiatric hospital.

On Monday, prosecutors launched a formal investigation into the abuse of vulnerable persons. The case is currently in its early stages as authorities work to establish the full timeline of the victims’ confinement, which investigators estimate may have lasted up to 30 years.

Charges and Potential Penalties

On Thursday, June 18, the prosecutor’s office announced charges against two women: a 70-year-old and her 50-year-old daughter. Investigators determined that the suspects failed to provide proper care for the twins for at least 16 years, resulting in severe hygienic, nutritional, and medical neglect.

A spokesperson for the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Suwałki confirmed that the victims suffered from chronic, multi-faceted health deterioration, including severe malnutrition. The suspects face up to eight years in prison for actions that placed the victims’ lives and health at grave risk.

Resources for Victims

Individuals experiencing domestic violence can contact the National Emergency Service for Victims of Domestic Violence “Blue Line” at 800 12 00 02. The helpline operates 24 hours a day. In life-threatening situations, please call the 112 emergency number.