In a small village near Suwałki, police discovered 47-year-old twins – Marzena and Janusz – whom neighbours had not seen since the mid-1990s. For decades, their parents explained their absence: the daughter had reportedly joined a convent in Sejny, and the son was working abroad. The case came to light only after the father’s death in January 2026.
An Ordinary Childhood, Then a Sudden Disappearance
Marzena and Janusz finished primary school in the mid-1990s. Residents remember them as ordinary local children – playing in the yard, taking part in local events. Nothing suggested an intellectual disability. After primary school, the siblings stopped being seen. Their parents consistently repeated to neighbours plausible-sounding stories about them having left.
Conflicting Explanations After the Father’s Death
The breakthrough came after the funeral of the 79-year-old father in January 2026. Neither child appeared. The mother gave neighbours different versions: at one point, that they had not been given time off work, at another, that they had not managed to return from abroad. Later she even claimed they had been at prayer in the chapel, though no one had seen them. These discrepancies sparked rumours and an anonymous tip to the police.
At the end of May, officers entered the property. The siblings were taken to a psychiatric hospital in Suwałki, where they remain under medical care. The first official notification came from the hospital.
What Do Neighbours Say?
- The farm gate almost always closed
- Several dogs guarded the grounds
- The father did not let anyone inside – not the postman, officials or a priest
- He handled all matters at the gate
Residents admit some of the family’s behaviour seemed strange, but did not arouse sufficiently strong suspicion. Today many are shaken: “I will never be at peace again. We lived next door, and someone there may have been calling for help”.
There was also another sister in the family, who was the only one functioning normally in the community – she worked as a teacher at a nearby school. It is not known how much she knew about her siblings’ situation.
Current State of the Investigation
The District Prosecutor’s Office in Suwałki is conducting proceedings for psychological abuse of persons unable to care for themselves due to their state of health. Officers inspected the house and outbuildings. So far, no charges have been brought against anyone. Investigators are verifying residents’ accounts and stress that the case is at an early stage – it is not yet certain how long the isolation lasted or what its exact nature was.
The siblings are currently safe and under specialist care. The prosecutor’s office urges restraint in judgement until all evidence has been gathered.
