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Rochom P'ngiengCambodian woman found in the Cambodian jungle
Country:
 Cambodia |
Biography of Rochom Pngieng
Rochom Pngieng, a Cambodian woman, lived a significant part of her life in the wild jungle before being discovered in 2007. On January 14th, 2007, she was found dirty, scarred, and terrified in the jungles near Ratanakiri province, Cambodia. Some believed she was a "jungle spirit," while others accused her of stealing food. However, Sal Lou, a 45-year-old Cambodian man, claimed that the wild woman was his long-lost daughter who disappeared in the jungle many years ago.
Rochom Pngieng was born in 1979 and went missing at the age of 8, making 1988 a tragic year for Sal's family. On that fateful day, their 6-year-old daughter passed away, and their eldest daughter vanished without a trace. Sal recognized his daughter through a scar on her hand and her resemblance to his wife. However, to confirm her identity, a DNA test was suggested. Sal initially agreed but later changed his mind.
Experts from human rights organizations examined Rochom and speculated that she may have been a victim of torture, possibly of a sexual or physical nature. Her strange scars on her wrists and ankles indicated that she may have been bound for an extended period. However, the exact details of her story remained elusive, as Rochom did not cooperate with authorities in unraveling her biography.
Despite the challenges, Rochom, now referred to as Rochom, began to live among people. Overcoming the habits she acquired during her years in the jungle proved to be difficult. Eating, in particular, was a struggle, as she devoured her food quickly and greedily, reminiscent of a wild animal. Adapting to clothing was also challenging, as she constantly attempted to remove any garments she wore. Her new family had to physically restrain her to keep her clothed. She could utter a few simple words such as "mother," "father," and "stomach pain." When hungry or thirsty, she would simply point to her mouth.
Rochom made several attempts to escape back to the jungle, but her new family and villagers closely monitored her, determined not to lose her again. On September 25th, 2007, Rochom managed to escape, but she returned on her own after some time. This pattern repeated several times, and each time, her family and villagers, along with several humanitarian organizations, tried to help her adapt to human life. Meanwhile, her father sought funds to pay a healer to rid his daughter of evil spirits.
In 2008, various sources reported that Rochom was gradually adjusting to human life. She began to laugh while playing with children, but she still refused to speak. In 2009, she was hospitalized due to prolonged refusal to eat, but she soon recovered and returned home. On May 25th, 2010, Rochom escaped once again, and she remained unheard of for several days. In early June, a neighbor of the Pngieng family heard a woman's cries coming from a pit toilet located 100 meters from their house. Rochom was found standing waist-deep in feces. It remains unknown how she ended up in the pit, but she had spent 11 days there.
In September 2010, it was reported that Rochom was receiving successful psychological therapy from psychologists of the Spanish organization "Psicologos Sin Fronteras." She had developed various social skills and abilities by then. In 2011, Rochom independently visited a psychologist once a week. She still lived differently from others, preferring to sleep in the chicken coop near her house, but she no longer feared people. Although she still refused to communicate through language, she began to use gestures and eye contact.
Whether the world will ever learn the true story of Rochom Pngieng and the cause of her numerous terrifying and peculiar scars remains to be seen. Rochom herself remains steadfastly silent on the matter.
