In the Spanish city of Oviedo on Monday, March 9, 2026, the trial of a couple accused of keeping their children locked up for four years will begin. The trial, which will be held behind closed doors, is taking place before a court in Oviedo. The parents face up to 25 years in prison for the alleged acts, which Spanish media have dubbed the 'house of horrors'. The case came to light in 2025 and shocked the local community.
Trial behind closed doors
The hearing against the couple of parents from Oviedo will be held behind closed doors, meaning limited access for the media and the public. This decision aims to protect the identity and well-being of the minor victims.
Four-year isolation of children
The main charge is keeping the children locked up for a period of four years in a house in the Fitoria district of Oviedo. The details of the conditions in which the children lived are not fully disclosed, but the media describe the location as the 'house of horrors' or 'villa of horrors'.
Potential penalty of up to 25 years in prison
The accused parents face a penalty of up to 25 years in prison. The trial is taking place before a court in Oviedo, with its start scheduled for March 9, 2026. The case came to light in 2025 after intervention by the authorities.
In the Spanish city of Oviedo in the Asturias region on Monday, March 9, 2026, a high-profile criminal trial will begin against a couple of parents accused of keeping their children locked up for four years. According to media reports, the hearing will be held before a court in Oviedo behind closed doors, which is intended to protect the identity of the minor victims. The parents have been charged in connection with the prolonged isolation of the children in their home in the Fitoria district, which the Spanish press has called the 'house of horrors' or 'villa of horrors' (Spanish: 'casa/chalé de los horrores'). They face a penalty of up to 25 years in prison for the alleged acts. The case came to light in 2025, shocking local public opinion. Although the details of the circumstances of the children's imprisonment are not fully disclosed to protect the victims, the sheer timeframe of four years of isolation indicates serious neglect and potential abuse. This trial represents a test for the Spanish justice system in terms of protecting children's rights and prosecuting similar, extreme cases of domestic violence. In the Spanish legal system, cases involving minor victims are often handled with special precautionary measures, including the principle of closed proceedings. The protection of children's rights is constitutionally guaranteed in Spain and by a series of laws, including the Organic Law on the Comprehensive Protection of Minors. The country has also ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Family and criminal courts have an obligation to prioritize the best interests of the child, which can result in, among other things, trials behind closed doors to avoid secondary victimization by the media.There is no information about the exact number of children, their ages, or the parents' motives, which remains unclear based on available articles. The identity of the accused is also not disclosed in the media. The trial in Oviedo will therefore be crucial for establishing a full picture of the events. Press reports, while consistent on the basic facts – the trial date, location, charges, and potential penalty – come mainly from Spanish sources and focus on procedural aspects, leaving many questions about the social and support context that led to the case being uncovered after such a long time.