Malnourished baby who had ‘never known daylight’ was kept in drawer for years

Article saved!

A mom from the United Kingdom has been convicted on four counts of child abuse.

Police in Cheshire were left shocked after discovering that a woman was allegedly keeping her infant child confined to a drawer under her bed in her home for the first three years of her life.

The authorities were alerted to the scene by the woman’s partner, who had no idea that the woman had given birth to the baby in 2020, and was keeping her a secret from everyone, including her own mother as well as her other children.

He had apparently heard what sounded like a baby crying in the room back in February 2023, and while he usually wasn’t allowed upstairs by himself, he took the opportunity to investigate after the woman left her keys in the door, according to Too Fab.

5c441a40-ac21-11ef-a0a3-db79ddc45b90.jpg.webp

Altura Advertising

The drawer where the baby was kept. Credit: CPS

“He had gone back into the house to use the toilet after the defendant had left her keys in the door. She usually didn’t allow him upstairs alone,” noted prosecutors, who have described that the child was found with “matted hair and [was] clearly malnourished.”

He allegedly “ran from the house in shock,” before telling other close relatives what he saw before they alerted the police.

During the court case, a social worker recalled the horrifying sight she saw when she responded to the scene.

“Since March 2023 I have thought about [the baby] and this case often,” they said. “My initial feelings and thoughts when we entered the mother’s bedroom was of disbelief. Her mother walked round the side of the bed and I followed. I was taken aback by what I saw and was extremely shocked to see a baby looking up at me sat in a divan drawer.”

They recalled asking the mother to confirm whether or not this was where she kept the baby and she responded: “Yes in the drawer.”

The court was told the girl was severely malnourished, to the point she looked like a seven-month-old baby, and had been fed with milky Weetabix through a syringe, per the BBC.

“I was shocked the mother did not show any emotion and appeared blasé about the situation. I asked had anyone else ever seen [the child]? Mom stated no,” the social worker added.

“It became an overwhelming horror that I was probably the only other face [the child] had seen apart from her mother’s,” they added. “Having been a social worker since 2006, I have never experienced such an extreme case of blatant child neglect and cruelty. The mother showed no remorse or emotion which I found extremely difficult to comprehend.”

As per a report by Child Protective Services (CPS), medical experts said the child – who was three years old when she was finally found – “could not crawl, walk, talk or make any communicative noises and made repetitive ‘self-soothing’ movements, such as rocking.”

They also claimed she was “significantly malnourished, unkempt, dehydrated, she had an untreated cleft lip and palate, swollen abdomen, significant nappy rash, and poor muscle bulk.”

The child has since received treatment and is making good progress, but will need further treatment.

It was reported that the baby girl “also had floppy limbs, swollen feet in an abnormal position, and redness to the outer limbs,” they added.

Altura Advertising

During her sentencing hearing earlier this week, Judge Steven Everett said the woman’s actions “totally defied belief.”

“You attempted to control this situation as carefully as you could but by sheer chance your terrible secret was discovered,” he reportedly said. “I don’t remember a case as bad as this in my 46 years,” Judge Everett added.

The woman was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to the crimes.

Article saved!

Julia Wandelt continues to capture global attention with her claim that could be Madeleine McCann, the British girl who vanished in 2007 at the age of three from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal.

Altura Advertising

Madeleine was just three when she vanished. Credit: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

This case has not only puzzled investigators but has also led to a sprawling financial and emotional expenditure, with the Metropolitan Police investing over £13.2 million in the search.

Wandelt, who has also used the names Julia Faustyna and Julia Wendell, made headlines last year when she publicly declared her belief that she was the missing child.

This assertion was based on her memories of being abducted and the physical descriptions of the individuals she recalls from her alleged kidnapping.

She described harrowing details on the Break The Ice podcast, claiming: “I remember being taken, I remember being abused before being taken, and I remember that I was put into the car… I only remember that he had dark hair and that he was slim and tanned skin.”

Seeking to solidify her claim, Wandelt – from Poland – reached out directly to Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann.

She recounted two phone interactions—one where she spoke briefly to Kate, who hung up after a short exchange, and another where Gerry dismissed her call.

Wandelt expressed confusion and frustration about why, if her actions were seen as troublesome or defamatory by the McCanns, no legal steps had been taken against her.

“I called Kate’s number, I called and once Kate answered the call and she said only ‘hello’ and she hung up when I asked her if she could do the test with me,” she said.

Altura Advertising

Gerry and Kate McCann in 2007. Credit: Pool / Getty

“And the second time I called her, Gerry answered the call, he was kind in the beginning and then when he heard my voice, he said that I called the wrong number.

“The main question I have here is why have they not still reported me if it’s annoying for them, if they think that I’m destroying their names or the name of Madeleine or their family?

Adding another layer to this complex scenario, DNA tests have confirmed that Wandelt is of Polish descent, with a small percentage of Lithuanian and Russian heritage, challenging her claims of being the missing British girl.

Dr. Fia Johansson, Wandelt’s representative and a psychic medium, told Radar Online: “The test results show she is Polish,” and added that while there is some uncertainty about her father, Wandelt’s mother is definitively her biological parent.

This ongoing saga raises numerous questions about identity, memory, and the lengths to which individuals will go to seek closure or connections to unresolved parts of their lives.

The emotional impact on all involved—Wandelt, the McCanns, and the public who have followed this case for over a decade—is profound.

Article saved!

In a tale that intertwines tragedy with mystery, Julia Wandelt, also known as Julia Faustyna and Julia Wendell, has made headlines with her astonishing claim that she might possibly be Madeleine McCann.

Yes, Wandelt thinks she could be the British girl whose disappearance in 2007 sparked one of the most extensively reported missing person’s cases in history. Madeleine was last seen in her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, while her parents dined nearby.

Altura Advertising

Wandelt, hailing from Poland, has captivated public attention by stating her belief that she could be the long-lost Madeleine, now an adult. Her story gained further visibility after an appearance on an episode of Dr. Phil, where she awaited DNA test results to confirm her origins.

Despite her efforts to validate her claim, Dr. Fia Johansson, Wandelt’s representative and a psychic medium, informed Radar Online that DNA results confirm Wandelt’s Polish roots, with traces of Lithuanian and Russian ancestry, thereby casting doubt on her claims of being Madeleine.

Wandelt continues to share her narrative, recalling traumatic experiences of being kidnapped and abused.

Altura Advertising

In a recent appearance on the Break The Ice podcast, she detailed memories of being forcibly taken and described a man who allegedly played a role in her abduction.

Despite these vivid recollections, the response from Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, to Wandelt’s request for a DNA test has been silence, according to her.

Adding to the complexity, the couple who raised Wandelt have reportedly refused to undergo DNA testing, firmly believing they are her biological parents. This refusal has fueled further speculation and discussion among those following her story.

Wandelt herself has expressed frustration over this on social media, responding to inquiries on her Instagram Stories about pursuing additional DNA tests with relatives.

“If the McCanns won’t do DNA is worth trying with the parents who raised you again or relative,” one person commented, as the woman responded: “All of them refuse to do DNA test.”

Altura Advertising

Gerry and Kate McCann in 2007. Credit: Pool / Getty

Dr. Johansson has also chimed in on the familial connections, suggesting uncertainty about Wandelt’s paternal lineage while maintaining confidence that her mother is indeed her biological mother.

Extensive medical records indicate that Wandelt suffered significant injuries as a child, including a skull fracture at the age of eight, which led to a prolonged recovery.

As Wandelt’s story unfolds, it continues to provoke a mix of skepticism and curiosity worldwide. The resolution of her claims—whether affirming her identity as Madeleine McCann or confirming her as a Polish native with no ties to the McCann family—remains to be seen.

The global interest in her case reflects the ongoing hope and heartbreak in the search for Madeleine McCann, a saga that has gripped the world for close to two decades.

By stefan armitage

Article saved!

The cause of death for supermodel Georgina Cooper has been revealed following the star’s tragic death at the age of 46.

Altura Advertising

Cooper died at the age of 46 earlier this month. Credit: Nick Harvey / Getty

Earlier this month, Cooper’s former agent, Dean Goodman, revealed that Cooper had passed away just months after she walked down the aisle at her wedding to her husband Nigel at her home in Maidstone, Kent in the summer.

“I can confirm the death of the beauty that was Georgina Cooper,” Goodman said in a statement to the New York Post. “She was a special one, like no other I have ever looked after, she was real… hard to find these days and she will be [sorely] missed by me and the many others that she touched their lives.”

“Seeing the outpouring of love for her is beautiful and shows what a special person she was, a naughty funny soul, and a smile that lit up any room or catwalk,” he added.

Cooper had been vacationing on the Greek island of Kos when she suddenly fell “ill”. According to reports, she was rushed to the island’s main hospital. She had been set to fly back to the UK the following day.

Tragically, she would never return home, as she was airlifted to a better-equipped hospital in Heraklion on Crete as her condition worsened. She reportedly remained there in ICU for five days before her heartbreaking death.

Now, the Daily Mail has reported that Cooper tragically died from cirrhosis of the liver and internal bleeding after her organs failed.

A local coroner informed the publication that no autopsy was required as her “medical history was known”.

A spokesperson for the hospital told MailOnline: “The doctors did what they could but because of her condition there was not much that could be done.

“She died from cirrhosis of the liver and internal bleeding after her organs failed. The coroner ruled there was no need for an autopsy because her medical history was known.

“Her body was moved from the Venizelou Hospital in Heraklion across the city to another facility before being flown back to Britain.”

Cooper’s body was flown back to England several days after she passed away.

Her family is due to lay Cooper to rest at a funeral service next week.

Supermodel Erin O’Connor has been among those paying tribute to Cooper on Instagram, writing: “Gorgeous George… Shocked and devastated to hear you are gone. You were an incredibly kind and funny human being, Georgina. I/we all admired and loved you so much for the warmth, generosity, and gentle mischief you brought to the world.”

“Many years have passed since we (our little 90’s Britannia pack) hung out together during the mad carousel era known as ‘show season’ – but, you ALWAYS stuck out to me for keeping it real and being proud of who you were,” she continued.

“What an almighty life you led… Full of spirit and endless, inspiring humility. You will never be forgotten. Phenomenal woman, wife, daughter, mum, and friend; my thoughts are with your family, especially your beautiful boy. Hugs and condolences to all… RIP brave heart,” she concluded.