Toddler Found Taped Up and Abandoned by Mother in Bantul is Now Cared for by Aunt in Gunungkidul

The mother, who used adhesive tape to bind the hands, feet, and mouth of her toddler before abandoning her in a rented room in the Kedaton area, Pleret, Bantul, is currently being interrogated by the Pleret Police. The child is now being cared for by her aunt in Gunungkidul.

Bantul Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Rita Hidayanto, stated that the female toddler, identified by the initials ACB (3), was crying when residents rescued her from the rented room because her limbs and mouth were still taped. “When the child was found, she was crying, likely because her hands and feet were still taped,” she said on Wednesday (3/6/2026).

Rita noted that ACB is now able to engage in normal activities and shows no physical injuries resulting from the incident. The child is no longer at the rental property, as a relative of the father has collected her. “The child is currently being cared for by her aunt in Patuk, Gunungkidul,”

The incident gained attention after a social media post described a toddler found in a room with her mouth, hands, and feet bound with tape. The parents had reportedly left the child alone, and neighbours intervened to save her. According to reports, the father works in Jakarta, leaving the mother as the sole caregiver in Bantul.

Mamat, the landlord of the rental property and a witness, recounted that a neighbour saw the mother leaving on a motorcycle on Monday afternoon without the child. After hearing faint crying during the evening, Mamat became suspicious. Around 9:00 PM, after receiving no response at the door, Mamat used a crowbar to pry open a window.

Upon entering the room, Mamat discovered the child in a corner, wearing only clothes and a nappy, with her hands, feet, and mouth bound with clear adhesive tape. Fortunately, the tape on the mouth was slightly loose, allowing the child to cry, and the room’s air conditioning and fan were running. Residents immediately removed the tape and alerted the local neighbourhood head (RT) and the police. The police have since apprehended the mother, who remains under investigation at the Pleret Police Station.