Story of Barbora Skrlova: 33-Year-Old Woman Who Posed as a 13-Year-Old Child

The bizarre case of Barbora Skrlova captured international headlines for the 33-year-old woman’s unbelievable ability to pose convincingly as a child.

Barbora Skrlova suffered from a rare condition called hypopituitarism that made her appear far younger than her true age.

Taking advantage of her youthful looks, Barbora Skrlová posed as a 13-year-old girl and boy to get adopted by unsuspecting families in the Czech Republic and Norway.

Each time, she managed to fool teachers, social workers, and even the police before eventually getting exposed.

Skrlova’s shocking story of manipulation still perplexes people today. To learn all the unbelievable details, keep reading about the strange case of Barbora Skrlova.

Early Life of Barbora Skrlova

Very little is known about Barbora Skrlova’s early life as no official documents have been made public regarding her childhood since her case gained widespread attention. However, some key details have emerged:

Medical Condition of Barbora Skrlova

• Skrlova suffered from a severe form of hypopituitarism, a disorder that results from the pituitary gland’s inability to produce adequate hormones
• This condition slowed her growth and caused her to appear much younger than her actual age
• Well into adulthood, Skrlova had the appearance of a 13-year-old child

Mental Health Issues of Barbora Skrlova

• Skrlova displayed significant mental health issues from a very early age
• The exact cause of these issues is uncertain but may have been related to her hypopituitarism
• Her parents recognized the severity of her mental health problems

Institutionalization

• Hoping to help her, Skrlova’s parents made the difficult decision to commit her to a mental institution
• They likely believed the institution would provide the treatment she needed to someday have a normal life
• How Skrlova managed to escape from the mental institution remains a mystery

Barbora Skrlová Escape from Mental Institution

Despite being committed to a mental institution by her parents, Barbora managed to escape from the facility at some point.

Unknown Escape Method

• How Skrlova escaped from the mental institution remains a complete mystery
• No details have emerged about the specific circumstances surrounding her escape
• It’s unclear whether she escaped on her own or had outside assistance

Launch Point for Manipulation

• Skrlova’s escape from the mental institution set the stage for her later acts of manipulation
• After fleeing the facility, she was able to move about undetected and create new fake identities
• She took advantage of the lack of oversight and records from the institution

No Official Records

• Very little is known about Skrlova’s time in the mental facility since no records have been publicly released
• It’s likely she was already displaying manipulative behaviors even while institutionalized
• However, officials have not provided any substantive documentation about her time there

The strange circumstances around Skrlova’s escape created the opportunity for her to go on to fool countless people. Her ability to flee custody speaks to her determination and resourcefulness in crafting elaborate ruses.

First Victims – Two Sisters Klara Mauerova & Katerina Mauerova and Klara’s Children (Ondrej and Jakub) in the Czech Republic

After escaping from the mental institution, Barbora Skrlova’s first known victims were Klara Mauerova and her two young children, Ondrej (8 years old) and Jakub (10 years old).

Klara’s Background

• Klara was born in 1975 in Kurim, located in the Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia)
• As a teenager, Klara struggled with depression and untreated mental health issues
• She became a mother at a young age, having two sons (Ondrej and Jakub) with a man who left her a few years later
• The separation took a toll on Klara, leaving her a single mother suffering from loneliness and aggression

Arrival of Katerina

• Klara asked her younger sister Katerina to come to live with her to help care for the boys
• Katerina also had some signs of mental illness, believed to be exacerbated by time with Klara
• The sisters grew increasingly withdrawn and fixated on distorted pseudo-religious ideas

Meeting Barbora Skrlova

• In 1995, Klara and Katerina met Skrlova at a local university in the Czech city of Brno
• Skrlova was 33 years old but appeared far younger due to a rare condition called hypopituitarism
• She approached the sisters claiming to be “Anicka” (or Anika), a 12 to 13-year-old girl who had escaped an abusive home

Gaining Trust

• Klara welcomed “Anicka” into her home, planning to eventually adopt her
• Skrlova claimed she was very ill and could only be treated by Katerina
• Katerina pretended to be Anika’s doctor, lying to Klara about supposed treatments
• The sisters came to love Skrlova deeply, though the children seemed wary of her

Manipulation and Abuse

• Skrlova began subtly turning the sisters against Klara’s sons
• She convinced them the boys were evil and deserving of harsh punishments
• The women locked the boys in cages in the basement, depriving them of food and water
• The abuse escalated to beatings, skinning attempts, and forced vomiting
• Klara also installed a baby monitor in the basement in order to keep watch over her sons

Discovery and Arrest

• In 2007, a neighbour’s baby monitor picked up audio from Klara’s monitor
• He heard the boys crying and alerted the police about the possible child abuse
• Police found the boys severely malnourished and abused in the basement
• Klara and Katerina were arrested in the child abuse case but Skrlova escaped yet again
• Skrlova’s father was the leader of a cult called “The Grail Movement” and its teachings were believed to be the motivation behind these abuses

Skrlova’s exploitation of the sisters and prolonged torture of innocent children was extremely disturbing. Her manipulation skills allowed her to evade justice once again and fled the Czech Republic.

Life of Barbora Skrlova in Norway as a 13-year-old boy named Adam

After fleeing authorities in the Czech Republic, Barbora Skrlova turned up in Norway posing as a young boy named Adam.

New Identity of Barbora Skrlova

• To appear more childlike, Skrlova got liposuction and a breast reduction
• She shaved her head and bound her breasts to disguise her gender
• Under the name Adam, she pretended to be a 13-year-old boy

Placement in Children’s Home

• In 2008, Skrlova showed up at a home for homeless children in Oslo, Norway
• She claimed to have been abused and exploited as Adam
• The staff had sympathy for the small, effeminate boy and let her stay

Adoption by Norwegian Family

• A Norwegian couple visiting the home decided to adopt Adam
• They enrolled Skrlova at Marienlyst School near Oslo
• For months, she kept up the appearance of being a young teenage boy

Living a Lie

• As Adam, Skrlova attended 6th-grade classes and activities
• She fooled teachers, social workers, and school officials
• The principal did note some strange behavior but wrote it off

Exposure and Arrest of Barbora Skrlova

• In December 2008, Adam went missing from the children’s home
• Norwegian police searched for the missing boy to no avail
• Tips led them to the Arctic city of Tromsoe where they finally arrest Skrlova in January 2009
• DNA tests proved Adam was actually the 33-year-old Skrlova

Once again, Skrlova constructed an elaborate fictional identity that allowed her to hide in plain sight. Her ruse bought her months of freedom before she was finally caught.

Where is Barbora Skrlova Now?

After her sensational story made international headlines, what became of Barbora Skrlova?

Trial and Sentencing of Barbora Skrlova

• Norwegian authorities deported Skrlova back to the Czech Republic
• There she was sentenced to 5 years in prison for her various fraud charges
• Prosecutors and victims pushed for a longer sentence, but the court was lenient

Release from Prison

• Skrlova only served 2.5 years of her 5-year sentence before being released
• Her lawyer successfully argued her mental health was deteriorating in prison
• In 2011, she was freed from probation and back into the Czech public

Avoiding the Spotlight

• Since her release, Skrlova has avoided any media attention
• She has kept an extremely low profile and has not sought any publicity
• It seems she wants to live a quiet, anonymous life

Current Whereabouts of Barbora Skrlova

• Skrlova’s current whereabouts are unknown to the public
• She is believed to be residing in the Czech Republic still
• Despite the fascination with her story, her life today remains a mystery
• The lack of news suggests she may have turned over a new leaf
• However, her past still raises concerns about the potential for repeat behavior

So while Skrlova is free today, exactly where she is and how she is living is unclear. For the victims of her past manipulation, her disappearance from the public eye may be somewhat reassuring.

Conclusion

The shocking case of Barbora Skrlova reveals how easily predators can exploit families and systems meant to protect children.

By pretending to be a child herself, she inflicted severe abuse and trauma that her victims still suffer from today.

Skrlova skillfully manipulated people’s kind instincts to avoid justice time and again. Her story highlights the need for greater vigilance when dealing with children with questionable pasts.

Please consider sharing this article to bring awareness to this disturbing case of manipulation and abuse. The victims deserve to have their stories heard.

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