American woman chained to tree confesses
In late July, rescue forces save a malnourished woman from a forest in India, who was tied to a tree there. The American claims that her husband left her there to die. However, one detail raises the suspicions of the investigators. Now, the woman changes her statement.
It was a discovery that shocked India just a few days ago: A US-American woman chained to a tree was found in a forest area in the state of Maharashtra. She accused her husband of leaving her there 40 days ago. Now, the 50-year-old has admitted to chaining herself to the tree, as reported by the BBC.
In late July, a shepherd heard desperate cries for help in a forest near the village of Sonurli, about 500 kilometers south of Mumbai, and alerted the police. The rescue forces cut the chain that was binding one of the woman's legs and took the dehydrated and severely malnourished woman to a hospital. Pictures of the rescue show a woman with sunken cheeks, appearing to be in critical condition.
As she was unable to speak, the woman communicated with the doctors and police through a notebook. In one of the notes, she claimed to be a victim of a crime: Her husband had chained her to the tree after an argument, and she had neither drunk nor eaten for 40 days. She also wrote that she was suffering from a severe psychosis that prevented her from moving her jaw.
Investigators initiated proceedings against the husband, among other things for attempted murder and false imprisonment. But the woman's statement also raised doubts, as it is unlikely that a person could survive more than a month without water and food.
Not married after all
Now, the woman has admitted that she is not married after all. She probably suffered from hallucinations when she made her initial statements, the woman told the BBC. Accordingly, she now told the police that she was desperate because her visa had expired and she had run out of money. Therefore, she bought locks and chains and chained herself to the tree.
According to a copy of her passport found by the police, the woman is a US citizen from Massachusetts. She is said to have lived in India for ten years. She also had a mobile phone, a tablet, and 31,000 rupees (about 340 euros) with her.
The woman is currently being treated in a psychiatric facility. Its director, Dr. Sanghamitra Phule, told BBC Marathi that the 50-year-old's condition is improving. "She is eating, walking, and exercising. She is in treatment and we are also giving her some nutrients that her body was lacking." Meanwhile, her family in the US has been located, and she has spoken to her relatives on the phone.
The shepherd who discovered the woman in distress immediately contacted the local police for help. Despite initial claims made by the woman, the police investigation raised suspicions due to the unlikely survival scenario.
