For twenty-two years she lived as a recluse at home, in the cold and practically reduced to slavery . Until the carabinieri discovered everything and freed her.

The victim is a 67-year-old woman from Bojano, in the province of Campobasso.

Back in 1995, when she was 40, she had been widowed and had accepted the invitation of her brother and sister- in-law to come and live with them in what was the old parents' room. After a few years, however, it had been moved to a room created next to the woodshed, without heating.

That became her bunker: the room was accessible via an external spiral staircase and, with the door closed with a strong string tied to a nail anchored to the wall, it was impossible for the prisoner to get out. For years, he has not received medical treatment and has not spoken to anyone. Her only exit was to go to a hairdresser, where she was still watched over by her sister-in-law . The hygienic conditions were also precarious: she had to wash in the laundry tub and only once a month.

A few months ago, however, a report came to the carabinieri who carried out an inspection of the house and understood how dramatic the situation was. The woman, accompanied to the barracks, denounced over twenty years of deprivation and psychological and physical harassment between blows and slaps.

"The 'resilience' of women - highlight the carabinieri - has been put to a severe test over the years, but has won her ability to endure the very serious privations suffered, from personal freedom, to freedom of speech and autonomy, showing a desire for to live and get out of this situation, trying at every opportunity to ask for help, with attempts that have remained unheard for too long ".

The woman is now in a protected facility where she was treated . "She was very lucid and precise in her story, despite her experience", concluded the carabinieri.

(Unioneonline / D)