Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This absorbing documentary investigates the terrifying phenomenon of "Collector Syndrome"—a psychological pathology where perpetrators view human beings as objects to be gathered, hidden, and possessed. Central to this exploration is the harrowing testimony of Lena Simakhina and Katya Martynova, two Russian girls who were kidnapped in 2000 and held in a soundproofed concrete bunker for nearly four years by Viktor Mokhov.
We examine the chilling details of their 1,312-day imprisonment, the psychological warfare used to keep them compliant, and the incredible resilience that eventually led to their rescue. However, as forensic psychologists and international police forces reveal, the Mokhov case is not an isolated incident. The film explores how "Collector Syndrome" explains a spreading global crime wave, offering a dark perspective on the disappearance of numerous young girls who vanish without a trace. From the crime scenes to the psychiatric wards, we look behind the rhetoric to understand the "collector" mindset and the haunting possibility that many victims remain undiscovered in hidden chambers across the world.
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This film was first broadcast: 2008
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True Lives brings you fascinating stories of social interest from around the world. You can discover award winning documentaries, films and groundbreaking reports that capture the complexities of our daily life, with stories that will entertain, inspire and inform.
Content distributed by ITV Studios.
This absorbing documentary investigates the terrifying phenomenon of "Collector Syndrome"—a psychological pathology where perpetrators view human beings as objects to be gathered, hidden, and possessed. Central to this exploration is the harrowing testimony of Lena Simakhina and Katya Martynova, two Russian girls who were kidnapped in 2000 and held in a soundproofed concrete bunker for nearly four years by Viktor Mokhov.
We examine the chilling details of their 1,312-day imprisonment, the psychological warfare used to keep them compliant, and the incredible resilience that eventually led to their rescue. However, as forensic psychologists and international police forces reveal, the Mokhov case is not an isolated incident. The film explores how "Collector Syndrome" explains a spreading global crime wave, offering a dark perspective on the disappearance of numerous young girls who vanish without a trace. From the crime scenes to the psychiatric wards, we look behind the rhetoric to understand the "collector" mindset and the haunting possibility that many victims remain undiscovered in hidden chambers across the world.
Subscribe to True Lives: bit.ly/3dBMxvl
This film was first broadcast: 2008
Check us out on Facebook: facebook.com/OurStoriesChannel
Watch More Documentaries
True Lives - bit.ly/3A8xRMJ
Up Close - youtube.com/@UpCloseITVS
Our History - bit.ly/3rUpdhL
Our World - bit.ly/3ftuckM
Our Stories - bit.ly/3ynfFyk
Taste - bit.ly/3OZoDcV
Blueprint - bit.ly/3ZK5UdD
True Lives brings you fascinating stories of social interest from around the world. You can discover award winning documentaries, films and groundbreaking reports that capture the complexities of our daily life, with stories that will entertain, inspire and inform.
Content distributed by ITV Studios.
