A relative discovered the woman's son, now 41, inside the "filthy" apartment on Sunday after becoming suspicious and breaking in. Photo / Getty Images, AP
A relative discovered the woman's son, now 41, inside the "filthy" apartment on Sunday after becoming suspicious and breaking in. Photo / Getty Images, AP
An investigation into a 70-year-old Swedish woman who allegedly held her adult son captive in their apartment for 28 years has thrown up a surprising revelation.
Authorities were called to the apartment after a suspicious relative broke into the flat and found the woman's 41-year-old son locked inside.
The sonwas taken to hospital after medics found him severely malnourished. He had sores and open wounds covering his legs, had almost no teeth and was struggling to walk and talk.
One of the woman's relatives made the discovery after suspecting she was controlling the boy's life but wasn't sure to what extent.
She broke into the flat while the mother was in hospital for more than a week and discovered the son lying on a blanket on the floor of the kitchen.
The man was found on a blanket in the kitchen that was covered in pus from open sores on his legs, had no teeth left and was also struggling to talk and walk, sources said. Photo / Getty Images
The 70-year-old mother was arrested, but the investigation is now closed after no evidence was found of illegal imprisonment.
The man's injuries could not be attributed to inflicted violence, prosecutor Emma Olsson told Reuters.
"Our forensic investigation of the apartment did not find signs which suggested the man was held there against his will," she said.
