Family reunited in new home after months apart

In Palmoli, Italy, Nathan and Catherine, parents of a family known as “the family in the woods”, met their three children at a house provided by the local government.

The children and parents reunited for the first time in their new home after a ten-month separation. The meeting began around 4:30 PM and lasted longer than scheduled, following a previous cancelled meeting due to safety concerns.

Simone Pillon, the family’s lawyer, described the reunion as a “good start” and a “important step” toward rebuilding family life. He said the children ran to greet their parents with shouts of joy, and Catherine had prepared ginger biscuits for their return. Pillon also thanked the press for respecting the family’s privacy and acknowledged the collaboration of social workers, the guardian, and the mayor of Palmoli.

The reunion is part of a gradual reintegration process ordered by the juvenile court of L'Aquila. The court also allows for future visits to the family’s original home in the woods. The family hopes to eventually include time with their animals, a horse, donkey, ducks, chickens, rabbits, and other farm animals. Weekend visits with overnight stays are planned to begin around mid-October, after 30 days of school.

The family is also pursuing a legal appeal on November 3rd to address concerns about the children’s health, the pace of reintegration, and educational options, including homeschooling.