Content warning: this article discusses child abuse
The 2009 film Orphan bears striking similarities to the real case of Natalia Grace: a woman diagnosed with a growth condition that allows her to pass as a child, allegedly wreaking havoc on her unsuspecting adopted family.
But Natalia’s adopted mother was reportedly convinced by the events of Orphan to claim her own adopted daughter was exhibiting similar deception and violence.
That story and the court cases that followed are now the plot of Hulu’s latest series, Good American Family, but Natalia isn’t the inspiration behind Orphan – the real story is even more disturbing.
The Czech version of ‘Good American Family’
When single mother Klára Mauerová first invited Barbora Skrlová into her home, she believed she was helping a vulnerable 12-year-old girl named Anička. In reality, Barbora was born in 1974 and diagnosed with hypopituitarism, a hormone deficiency that impacts growth.
Klára lived with her sister, Kateřina, and her two sons: Ondrej and Jakub. She officially adopted ‘Anička’ in 2006, but things were already becoming sinister.
Barbora convinced Klára that her sons were violent and insubordinate, deserving punishment. It began months of child abuse perpetrated not only by Barbora and the Mauerovás, but others in their circle.
The boys were under constant surveillance via baby monitors set up in their cramped living conditions.
In 2007, a neighbour installed a baby monitor in his home, but the signal got swapped with the monitor in the Mauerová home. When the neighbour saw what was happening to the children, he immediately called the police.
The boys were freed and removed from the household, along with another child who claimed to be a victim…‘Anička’.
The true story of Barbora Skrlová
Authorities placed ‘Anička’ in an orphanage while the Mauerová sisters awaited trial, but she quickly disappeared.
As police searched for the missing girl, it was revealed by someone close to the family that ‘Anička’ was the alias of 33-year-old Barbora – a colleague of Kateřina’s.
Barbora was eventually found at a school in Norway, where she was disguising herself as a 13-year-old.
The Mauerovás received 10 years in prison each for their crimes, but Barbora only received five. But just like Good American Family, this case asks more questions than it answers.
For more about Barbora’s backstory and the possible cult involvement in the crimes, listen to this episode of Cult Liter.
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