Swedish father reveals English-speaking woman found living rough in Rome is his 21-year-old daughter who has Asperger’s
THE mystery English-speaking woman found living rough on the streets of Rome is a 21-year-old Swedish student with Asperger's, it has emerged.
Embla Jauhojärvi, from Stockholm, began a life on the streets around six months ago after she abruptly stopped contacting her family in Stockholm.
Italian cops confirmed her identity this afternoon.
Her father Tahvo, who lives just outside Stockholm, told The Sun Online she had left Sweden to study the Italian language in May.
He said: "She had been missing for six months at least now. I knew she went to Italy to study the Italian language several months ago.
"She stopped contacting everyone, any family, she just wanted to break away and start her own life because she has Asperger's as well.
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"I have contacted the Swedish police and they have contacted Interpol and they have contacted the Swedish embassy in Rome so I can get her home - and I hope she'll want to go home.
"She's looking like a bag lady, homeless, and she doesn't have any belongings, no clothes, any cellphone.
"She could have been in some kind of shock, I don't know what she's done there or what has happened to her. I don't want to think about this."
Italian police spokesman Lucia Muscari said: "She is not a missing person but we have notified the international authorities. She has no previous criminal record.
"She is in good health but we are doing health checks and are giving her accommodation for the moment in Rome. We are in touch with the family.
"They haven't had contact with her in a few months. She has been living on the streets. She is not collaborating much but she speaks Italian.
"She told us she was English and was called Maria. Then she gave another name - she didn't want to be identified."
Internet sleuths originally claimed Embla could be missing Brit Madeleine McCann.
This came after Rome police said she had told them she was from Britain and aged 20.
However, Met Police earlier today confirmed she was not the British youngster who disappeared in Portugal in 2007, who if alive today would be aged only 13.
Her dad's comments come as new footage today showed Embla ignoring questions put to her in both Italian and English as she wanders off without saying a word during a bizarre encounter.
The video, published by , came after internet sleuths made extraordinary claims she could be missing youngster Maddie.
However, this suggestion was put to rest after Met detectives told family campaigners that they did not believe it was her.
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The campaign group said: "Thank you all for contacting us regarding this child. We have passed on to Operation Grange. They do not believe this is Madeleine."
Today Maddie would only be 13 - much younger than Embla, who was also lacking the distinctive mark on her eye noticeable in photographs of Maddie.
Rome police also say they spoke to Embla several days ago and she had no ID papers on her at the time.
She told them she had fled Britain and was 20 years old, but as she had not committed any crime, they could not fingerprint her.
Earlier today a source close to Maddie's parents Kate and Gerry, both 48, said: "If there are any developments of any significance police advise them.
"They remain grateful that the public still have Madeleine in their minds. They are convinced this girl is not their daughter."
Embla was also linked to a spate of missing children cases after photographs of her were circulated on social media.
These included Amanda Adlai, who was abducted in Michigan in 2008, and Maria-Brigitte Henselmann, who disappeared from Germany in 2008.
After her plight was broadcast on Italian TV, many witnesses came forward to say they recognised her as living on the streets for some time.
After it aired, a number of people came forward to describe instances they have seen her in the Italian capital.
One wrote: "I saw her two Saturdays ago. She was sitting in front of the Pantheon. Her clothes were dirty and she was already a bit cold (and) had a skirt with no socks."
Another said: "I’ve crossed (paths with her) more than once. Has light clothing and is very dirty. It is obvious that she sleeps on the street.
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