The True Story That Inspired Orphan

After Skrlova's disappearance from the children's home, detectives used DNA evidence 'Anicka' left behind to discover her identity. The investigation led the police to Martin Fahrner, who had a wife and 13-year-old son named Adam in the Czech Republic. Skrlova had shaved her head and pretended to be his son, Adam. After a few months there, she claimed to her school in Oslo that she was being abused by Martin and ran away. Police detained her after she admitted she was Barbora Skrlova.

This mysterious case had many twists and turns, and Klara Mauerova claimed that she was manipulated by Katerina and Skrlova into abusing her children. "I couldn't act like a mother," she testified. "I didn't beat the children of my own free will, I had to do it according to the instructions."

Unlike Esther from "Orphan," Skrlova didn't meet her demise at the hands of her adopted mother. Instead, she was sentenced to prison for five years for her crimes. She was released two and a half years early and was on probation until 2016. What has become of her since then remains unknown.

If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.