Marina Chapman’s extraordinary life began with a tragic incident when she was k!dnapped and abandoned at the age of four. Hailing from Colombia, she was forcibly taken from her home village in a remote part of the country by two men, erasing her memories of her parents and her previous life.
This is what she had to say
Marina found herself unexpectedly abandoned in the jungle, forced to rely solely on her instincts. At 73 years old, she asserts that monkeys became her steadfast companions after she was allegedly kidnapped in 1954 during a period of prevalent child-trafficking in Colombia. Recounting the incident, she vividly described a hand, covered by a black handkerchief, silencing her before two individuals whisked her away, as detailed in her 2013 book, “The Girl With No Name.”
During an interview with LADbible last year, she expressed her reluctance to see them depart, saying, “When I saw them going, I just didn’t want them to leave. I was worried about it.” Describing the departing figures, she noted, “I saw their legs, one was a black one and one was a white man moving away in shorts. And I just wanted to beg them to come back for me, not to leave me there.” Unfortunately, no one returned for her, and Marina found herself alone until she heard a monkey in the trees above.
Continuously prodded by a resilient little monkey, I resisted any movement, not wanting to disrupt the moment. As more monkeys joined, I began to feel a sense of comfort. Over weeks, my bond with them deepened, and they embraced me as part of their group. I learned to discern various noises, identifying the cautious ones and recognizing signals for danger and food. Explaining the learning process, I said, “Many sounds mean something. The ‘danger’ one is the louder one, and then the whistle one is the ‘food’ one.” Despite initial fear, I adapted by observing their behaviors.
Hunters discovered me five years later, claiming I was abducted. Allegedly taken to a brothel in Cucuta, I eventually worked as a maid until relocating to the UK.