Woman found at Siberian airport is discovered to be girl kidnapped from a hospital 2,500 miles away by a 'paedophile' and presumed dead by her mother who took her own life
- 25-year-old woman named 'Lyudmila Unknown' was found back in 2007
- Was severely traumatised, bruised and unable to speak or identify herself
- Search for family revealed she was 'stolen' from hospital by 'paedophile'
- Almost ten years later she will meet with her uncle, but not her mother
- For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details
Efforts to track the identity and family of a lost 25-year-old woman named 'Lyudmila Unknown' by Russian officials have revealed a shocking tragedy.
She was found severely traumatised and covered in bruises at a Siberian airport in 2007.
Unable to speak or reveal her identity, she was distressed and confused, and believed by staff of the asylum where she was taken to live as being mentally challenged.
Efforts to track down the family of a lost woman named Lyudmila Unknown (left) have revealed a shocking tragedy. Her mother (right) - convinced the girl was dead - took her own life
Valentina Ivanova, a junior nurse, recalled: 'They brought her here all dirty and covered in bruises.
'She looked 15 or 16 years old, like a child. Her hair was short, she was skinny, flesh and bones.'
She could not remember her name, and all efforts to discover her family ended in failure.
She gave a glimmer of recognition to the Christian name of Lyudmila, so she was officially registered as Lyudmila Neizvestnaya - or Lyudmila Unknown.
Now, almost a decade later, volunteers used social media to seek her missing family, and in doing so unlocked an appalling tragedy, namely that she had been 'stolen' from hospital by a suspected paedophile and that her mother - convinced the girl was dead - took her own life.
Her uncle Sergey Kostryukov, 44, saw the social media postings and recognised Lyudmila.
Lyudmila Dolgopolov (right as a child) had been 'stolen' from hospital where she was being treated for mental disabilities by a suspected paedophile
A map showing how Birobidzhan, where Lyudmila's uncle lives, is 2,500 miles east of the Siberian airport where she was found
He lives in her home city of Birobidzhan, 2,500 miles east of where she was found, and revealed how a suspected paedophile had taken the girl - real name Lyudmila Dolgopolov, who was born with mental disabilities - from a hospital where she was undergoing temporary treatment.
All attempts to find the missing teenager at the time ended in failure.
'Her devoted mother Natalia Dolgopolova in 2008 was shown by police the burned corpse of a teenage girl and identified it as Lyudmila,' reported The Siberian Times.
She was mistaken but then 'beset by grief, Natalia hanged herself soon afterwards'.
A grandmother, who also cared for Lyudmila as a child, is also now dead.
While Lyudmila had run away from home before, it is believed the man took advantage of her wanderlust and exploited the teenager.
Social worker Elena Ladygina, her carer, said: 'Someone took advantage of her state and led her out of the hospital, and then threw her away.
'And the most horrible thing is that the crime was committed when she was underage (under 18).
Her uncle Sergey Kostryukov, 44, saw the social media postings and recognised Lyudmila
'I hope the police will sort it out.'
She believes Lyudmila - known as Luda to staff - travelled across Siberia by long-distance truck, even though she was originally found at Krasnoyarsk airport.
It is not clear if this journey was with the man who abducted her or others.
'Probably she came with truck drivers,' she said.
'I once showed her a truck on the road and asked: 'Did you go by big cars?'
'She confirmed this.'
Nurse Valentina Ivanova told how Lyudmila is popular at the only home she has known for nine years.
'She's our favourite. Kind, easy,' she said.
'She's always happy to help when I ask.
'She can sweep floors, do the dishes.
'She loves planting flowers - tulips, roses - in our flowerbeds.
'She enjoys walking.
'Our mental hospital is on the bank of the Yenisei River. We have a great view.'
Her uncle is now preparing to visit her in the hope she recognises him.
'If only her mother was still here to see her,' he said.
- For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.
- Former wrestler Chyna posts final video days before death
- Video shows Texas flood victim's SUV driving into high water
- Paisley Park: Space-age studio complex where Prince died
- Obituary of music legend Prince who has died aged 57
- See the moment this teacher breaks down over Prince's death
- Prince shows off his virtuoso guitar playing on Beatles song
- Terrifying moment of fatal Costa Rica tourist boat sinking
- Princes watch old footage of Queen and family enjoying toy...
- Queen reminisces about taking tea outside with King George...
- Prince with Mayte Garcia back in 1999 when they were married
- The Queen and Prince Philip greet Obamas at Windsor Castle
- GMA anchors react to Michael Strahan move
- Prince's 'overdose': Pop superstar, 57, had to make...
- 'He's with our son now': Prince's ex-wife and the mother of...
- Prince's girlfriend ALSO died this year aged 57: Vanity and...
- Killed in a fight over a boy at school: The 16-year-old girl...
- A purple relaxation room, huge recording studio and dance...
- Girl, 16, dies after being 'jumped by a gang of bullies' in...
- Narcos in knickers: The hero Mexican marine who hunts drugs...
- Boris Johnson branded 'racist' and likened to the right-wing...
- How sexy Kate Middleton flashed her nude bum to male...
- A 'sex single' with Kim Basinger and liaisons with Madonna,...
- Migrants versus the MAFIA: Cosa Nostra 'declares war' on...
- Prince 'overdosed a week ago on Percocet taken for a chronic...