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Tonight on Nova, the shocking story of a girl who spent her childhood locked in a bedroom.

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The girl reportedly was wearing diapers, social workers discovered the case two weeks ago.

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Raised in isolation, Genie was a wild child,
uncivilized barely able to walk or talk.

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The indications are that she was
beaten for making noise.

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(narrator) With footage never before 
seen on television.

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Nova follows the controversial efforts to
unlock the secrets of the wild child.

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(narrator) Once in a great while, 
civilized society comes across a wild child.

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A child who has grown up in severe isolation, 
with virtually no human contact.

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This is the story of such a case.

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The story begins in Los Angeles, 
on November 4th 1970.

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(reporter) Specials in the Los Angeles suburb of Arcadia,

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have taken custody of a 13-year-old girl and
they say was kept in such isolation by her parents

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that she never even learned to talk.

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Her elderly parents have been 
charged with child abuse

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(Narrator) This is the scene of the crime,

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the child was locked in the room and
tied to a potty chair for most of her life.

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Completely restrained she was forced to sit alone day after day and often through the night.

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She had little to look at and no one 
to talk to for more than 10 years.

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The girl reportedly was making infantile 
noises and still wearing diapers,

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when a social worker discovered 
the case 2 weeks ago.

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Authorities are hoping that she still may 
have a normal learning capacity.

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Here was a 13-year-old who seemed like an infant, girl who would be known as Genie.

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Genie was taken to Childrens hospital in Los Angeles

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where she immediately won the 
heart of doctors and scientists

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She was fragile and beautiful almost haunting and
so I was pulled and I was very drawn to her

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even though I was nervous and had no idea 
in many respects what to expect.

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Genie was about to test an idea important to 
science and society.

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That a nurturing environment can make up for even 
the most nightmarish past.