girl, 6, rescued after being locked in filthy room for her whole life with just a teddy for company

A couple have been arrested after a six-year-old girl thought to have been locked in her room her whole life was rescued (Picture: civil police)

A six-year-old girl has been rescued after being locked her whole life in her room.

The young child from Sorocaba in Sao Paulo state,Brazil was found to have been fed a liquids only diet and had never been to school or been taught how to speak.

Authorities conducted a welfare check a week ago after receiving an anonymous tip off and discovered her in a dark filthy room with only a teddy bear for company.

She had not eaten anything that day,and had tangled hair that looked like it had never been washed,police said.

Because of her inability to speak,she communicated with officers through basic sounds.

In addition to her lack of development,she was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection,a blood infection and severe malnutrition.

Her mother,when questioned,showed ‘no remorse whatsoever’ and gave evasive answers,The Sun reported.

The unnamed girl was found during a welfare check in the city of Sorocaba,in Sao Paulo state,Brazil (Picture: Picasa)

She was unable to ‘grasp the gravity of the situation’,police chief Renata Zanin said.

Zanin told Universo Online: ‘When asked questions like: ‘Why didn’t you take her to the doctor’ or ‘Why didn’t she go to school’,the mother simply replied ‘Because it hasn’t happened yet’ or ‘I was going to take her’.

Both of her parents were arrested and charged initially with unlawful detention,and are liable to be further charged with mistreatment.

They had no legal representation ahead of a custody hearing earlier this week.

The girl was taken to hospital for a medical examination before being put in a children’s home.

Ligia Guerra,a child protection counsellor,said the girl was ‘dazzled’ by everything and ‘apathetic’.