When Greek police raided a Roma gypsy settlement for drugs and weapons, they stumbled upon an illegality they hadn't expected: a little girl. The 4-year-old blonde, known as Maria, bore no resemblance to her 'parents,' leading authorities to believe she was a victim of child trafficking.
According to an article in ABC News, DNA testing proved the little girl was unrelated to her gypsy caregivers. Though she was reportedly in good mental and physical health, it's a mystery how she came to live with the 39-year-old man and 40-year-old woman who treated her as their own.
The couple, with 14 children registered under its care in three different Greek regions, gave conflicting statements to police about how they came to care for the little girl. Their lawyer claimed Maria's birth mother could not support her, and gave her up willingly.
The couple has since been arrested on "suspected abduction charges and holding false papers." And images of the girl have been popping up all over international media, pleading for information as to her origins.
Maria is currently in the care of the Greek charity, A Child's Smile, while police employ Interpol's assistance to help determine her identity.
What do you think is the best course of action for Maria?
Printer-friendly version