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Pictured: Inside the cellar where father locked daughter for 24 years and repeatedly raped her
Last updated at 00:37am on 29.04.08
Confession: Josef Fritzl says he locked his daughter in a cellar for nearly 24 years
This is the man who today confessed that he imprisoned his daughter in an underground chamber for 24 years and fathered her seven children.
Elisabeth Fritzl, 42, was raped repeatedly since being lured into the dungeon built below the family home in a small Austrian town. Police said she had been "broken" by the experience.
Josef Fritzl, 73, admitted to police that all the children were his.
Three of them - Kerstin, 19, Stefan, 18, and Felix, five - were held captive with their mother in a series of windowless rooms and never saw the sunlight until they were freed on Saturday.
Incredibly, three others, Alexander, 12, Monika, 14, and Lisa, 16, were raised in the home by Fritzl and his wife. They were adopted by the couple and went to school, leading apparently normal lives.
The other child, a twin, died shortly after birth and the body burned by Fritzl in a boiler. Detectives today revealed details of the complex of rooms where Elisabeth was held since August 1984.
The three children kept prisoner with her were born there and are thought to have spent their entire lives underground.
Franz Polzer, head of the criminal investigations unit in the province of Lower Austria, said: "He has now said that he locked up his daughter for 24 years and that he alone fathered her seven children and that he locked them up in the cellar."
The case echoes that of Natascha Kampusch who was kept in a cellar by a paedophile in Vienna for eight years from the age of 10 until she escaped last year.
Police are now trying to discover how Fritzl managed to keep his daughter as a sex slave without the apparent knowledge of his 60-year-old wife Rosemarie at the three-storey house in Amstetten, 80 miles west of Vienna.
Elisabeth was this afternoon said to be suffering from a serious physical condition which was deteriorating.
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Bathroom: Bright decorations cannot disguise the ramshackle state of the hiding place
Sinister: The narrow corridor that leads to the cramped cellar where Elisabeth Fritzl was locked up for 24 years
Captive: This tiny door led into the sequence of underground rooms where the four were held
Elisabeth, who was described as pale and malnourished with hair that had turned white, has told police she was held captive since shortly after her 19th birthday, having been abused by her father since the age of 11.
Detectives said she appeared "greatly disturbed" during questioning. She agreed to talk only after authorities assured her she would no longer have to have contact with her father and that her children would be protected.
Fritzl, an electrical engineer, had built a series of connected chambers, less than six feet high, behind a concealed door at the house.
The chambers had areas for sleeping, cooking and washing. Investigators said the basement labyrinth even contained a padded cell.
They refused to show pictures of rooms where the children had been born and hwere the four slept. It is believed the complex extended out beneath a plot of land at the rear of the family home.
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Elisabeth Fritzl, left, as a teenager and Monika, 14, one of her daughters allowed to leave the dungeon
The only door to the complex was controlled by an electronic lock that only he knew the code for. Fritzl was arrested yesterday and the children have been taken into care.
His wife told detectives she was unaware of the imprisonment and years of sexual abuse taking place in the basement. Amazingly, the couple also rented rooms to lodgers who failed to notice that anything was amiss.
The three imprisoned children were taught to read and write by their mother with Fritzl passing clothing and food through a hatch. A tube provided ventilation.
Their extraordinary captivity only ended when Kerstin fell seriously ill and had to be taken to hospital nine days ago. Police said the 18-year-old had been "surprised" when Fritzl allowed her to go to the hospital.
It was the first time she had left the dungeon.
Doctors found a handwritten note in unconscious Kerstin's pocket. It was from her mother — begging medics to save her daughter.
Baffled by the illness, the hospital launched an appeal for missing Elisabeth to come forward and provide her medical history. Fritzl freed Elisabeth and the other two children. Kerstin remains in a coma.
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Dark secret: The banal facade of Fritzl's house in the Austrian town of Amstetten
Prison: An aerial shot of the Fritzl house, where Elisabeth was held captive for 24 years
Today police said that when he was arrested, he initially said "nothing" although he was now co-operating with officers.
"He led a double life for 24 years," said Mr Polzer. "The family lived upstairs. He had children with his own daughter who lived downstairs.
"He did not want to give any details to officers who investigated it."
Mr Polzer said of the underground chamber: "There are a number of rooms. Everything is very, very narrow and the victim herself, the mother of these children, told us that this was continually enlarged over the years."
Police are looking at planning records to see if Fritzl ever notified authorities about the building work.
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Family of mystery: Daughter Lisa, who lived a normal life, Fritzl's wife Rosemarie and his second son, Alexander at the age of 12
Fritzl had fooled the authorities over the years by telling them that his " missing" daughter had mysteriously returned on three occasions - in 1993, 1994 and 1997 - to dump three children on his doorstep.
He claimed each time she had left a note saying she was unable to look after them and persuaded authorities she had left to join a cult.
Fritzl and his daughter were picked up on Saturday close to the hospital where Kerstin is being treated.
He kept Elisabeth prisoner by telling her the cellar was booby trapped to explode if she attempted to escape.
Police took the retired electrician with them to discover not just the secret opening to the underground cell, which only he knew, but to slowly,carefully gain entrance because of the fear of hidden explosives.
Held captive: Natascha Kampusch
The small, keyless door to the dungeon, barely three feet high and two feet wide, was concealed in a workshop in part of the cellar by a shelf filled with cans of paint and other containers.
"Behind the shelf was a door made of reinforced concrete, secured electronically and running on steel rails," said local police official Heinz Lenze.
"Only the suspect ( Fritzl) knew the code."
Once inside astonished police found a labrynth of tiny rooms and tight, narrow stone-lined passageways, with uneven floors and a ceiling no higher than 5ft6ins, that was continually renovated and enlarged over the years as Fritzl's "family" grew.
The retired electrical engineer, desperate to keep his evil plan secret, dug out much of the basement with his bare hands, making regular trips to local building suppliers for materials. Foam insulation was liberally applied as an effective means of sound-proofing.
"It was a prison which he installed with skill and energy," said Mr Lenze.
The only source of light for Elisabeth and the children was a harsh striplight overhead.
Quite aside from the appalling mental damage, doctors are also concerned to discover what damage has been done to their eyesight after a prolonged period underground.
A television, video recorder and a large radio were their only contacts with the outside world - apart from the hatch through which Fritzl passed them food that was cooked on 'small hot plates' on an ancient cooker, and clothes.
Some toys, paper and glue were also found in the dungeon to provided some distraction for the young captives. Their handwork can clearly be seen in the photo of the bathroom where, in an effort to alleviate their unimaginable torment, various poignant children's drawings adorn the wall.
Mr Polzer said: "The lives of the three children in the cellar is in no way comparable with the lives of their three siblings.
"Since the day they were born they have never seen the light of day. They never had any doctor to care for them when they were sick.
"They learned to speak from their mother in isolation. They were pale, and experienced having to be nearby during the ordeal their mother was put through."
The case has prompted widespread disbelief in Austria over how such abuse could have been repeated - and why it went unnoticed for so long by the authorities.
"The entire nation must ask itself just what is fundamentally going wrong," the newspaper Der Standard said today.
Questions are being asked about how neighbours could have failed to notice what was happening.
Reader views (97)
I cant even begin to imagine how all his children feel, his first daughter, his other children/grand children, its digusting!!!
- Den Den, USA
I am so disgusted. I can't believe someone could do this to their own child.... I pray that people like this will be exposed and arrested. I don't even think there is a punishment great enough for what he has done.
- Stella Crobert, Greensboro, NC USA
Ohh Ohh this is the worst father i have aver experienced.I pray the kids live a normal life and have the understanding as any other person
may God Bless the children and mother
- Tabot Vahid Orock, Buea cameroon
its sick
- Cassie, carrabelle fl.
Cassandra, you have no clue what you are talking about.....I was in the military and freedom is everything and what I fought for.
- Michelle Swink, Greenville, SC USSA
I cannot believe that this went on for 24 years! Why would a father do this to his own daughter! Does he feel no remorse, if he wanted sex so bad he has a wife doesn't he! Why his daughter, why! I've never seen such pure evil in my life and I hope this man receives his due for such a heinous act. And not to mention the children...may God heal them all. Imagine brothers and sisters who have never known each other, and some led good lives, while others suffered severely for nothing other than just being born.
- Ayo, New Egypt, NJ
I think it's sad that Elisbeth has been locked up for the exstent of my life 24yrs I can't imagine what type of sick person could do this and have no reguard for his daugter and what he did to her. What he did will effect all of those children for the rest of there life no matter what therapy they go through it won't ever completly heal them. I pray that they will get spiritual help along with there therapy because God it the only person that can competly heal there mind and soul from what happen to them.
- Elaine, Longview,TX
This is pure evil in its sickest form. How can anyone truly believe that this is ok? It is totally NOT ok.. Makes me sick to my stomach. His daughter will never be able to escape the ghosts of what her father has done to her. He is suppose to be one of the two people she could trust and admire, yet all she has now is a corrupted idea of what life is suppose to be like. Bring him to Texas!! We have an express lane for the death penalty for offenders like him!! UGGGHHHH!!
- Sherry, Longview, Texas
i was shocked to hear this and im totally not buying the whole nobody knew anything excuse the grandmother HAD to know i mean where was she when the 7 kids were born she CAN'T be that clueless i really feel like she should come forth i mean for heavens sake this IS your daughter
- Tatiyannn Jordan, pensacola, florida
It's amazing to me that people are so busy with there own lives that for 24 yrs nobody knows about this situation. I mean the police didn't know the neighbors didn't no not even her own mother. And the story doesn't even seem possibly. I believe somebody knew something was going wrong or something wasn't right in that house hold a long time ago. Who ever it was just didn't step up to say it or they did and nobody believed them. So sad.......
- Ashley, milwaukee, wisconsin
They need to lock him up and throw away the key. If it was up to me he would only get bread and water for the rest of his life. I wouldn't let him have any light either make him live in the dark like he did them poor little kids and their mom.
And for the cops or schools not to catch on to anything is sad. It just goes to show you that some people just don't care what is going on around them. You know that someone in that area had to know that something was wrong when they didn't see the girl anymore. If she would of took them kids there she would of stay afew days to see her family don't you all think. I just don't understand why no-one caught on to that messed -up lie from the get go.
- Christine Long, Lebanon,Indiana. /USA
We think the father josef fritzl should be crusified because, what he did to his daughter and her 7 children was sick and terrifing. Haven not seen the sun for over 20 years must have been really cruel. He shouldnt even have a capital letter at the begging of his name, because he doent deserve it!
We hope that Elisabeth and her 7 children have a happy rest of there lives and forget about josef fritzl! What he did was horrible and he should never be forgiven for what he did to them. I just think some times how lucky i am to have a nice dad and some one i can trust and who cares about me. We hope he lives a cruel life in prisoon!!! From Saffron and Mia Spurling.
- Saffron, England Weston-Super-Mare
This is such a sad situation. How on earth could the wife be this clueless. Did she work, live outside the country or just didn't pay any attention to her husband. Oh how about, miss her daughter or maybe even her step daughter. Who helped with childbirth. What courage this woman has. If she survived dealing with this fruit cake, I'm sure she can get the help she needs to function in a sain world after all. She made it through 24 years of insanity.
- Lavern, flint michigan 48505
I cant even BEGIN to describe how I feel about this thing! who likes to call himself a "father". The anger and sadness I feel for his poor daughter and her children, their father is also their grandfather! But I think that if there is ANYTHING to be gained from her experience and to be a little bit optimistic in this case, she mothered and cared for three beautiful children, as best she could, and they have no physical attributes which would expose their horrible genetic misfortune.
My heart goes out to this brave, brave woman and I hope she can begin a nearly normal life now.
Bless.
- Jess, Weipa, Australia
i cant believe that nobody knew what was going on not even his wife some one should have suspected something was going on the is the craziest thing i ever heard in my life no medical care what about the birth of her children what did he do with the afterbirth and how could he just get away with doing so much without nobody getting nosy and trying to find out what he was doing and what about when he was cooking for them no one smelled food cooking
- Zel, chicago
How horrid. I have to wonder what possesses sick people to think like that. That poor woman and her children will be scarred for life. I can't say I hate Fritzl - hate is too strong a word for anyone. But it comes pretty close.
- Maggie, America
This man is sick, there is no way to punish him that it will bring back 24 years of this poor girls life. Attention needs to be given to the daughter and the children to help them cope and allow them to have some sort of "normal life" You only get once shot at life and Elisabeth has some catching up to do...look at all the things she has missed out on and the horrible effect this has head on her mental state. This is a horrible story and he is a sick excuse for a father. I hope she and her children find away to start to enjoy life. The father is a lost cause.
- Joselynn, Toronto, Canada
Wow, I can't believe that someone would actually do that! Especially a father to a daughter! He must have major, major issues.......
- Susan, America
This man should be treated sobad in jail that even if he asks for death he does not get it. If they kill him he will not suffer what he did to his kids.
- Dude, burnley lancashire
I think that someone should hold him captive for the rest of his life.
- Joanna, St. Lucia
This so ridiculous, that a man can hold his own blood captive for 24yrs men he can never go on punished he will surely see the wrath of God, for l know he is already leaving in hell. The blood of the six leaving children will be crying on his head including the deceased one, he will know no peace. Old fool. He is in scene. You will die a vegetable in Jesus name. amen
- Osse Walter, Lagos Nigeria, Lagos, Nigeria
This cruel man should be handed over to Public Crowd and ask crowd to beat him with stones until he die on same spot. He owe each and every drop of his blood to his innocent daughter.
This person will burn in hell thousand and thousand and million and million of years. God will never forgive him for his sins.
- Teena, Canada
I think he should be kept in the same prison for the rest of his life. He could die in misery the same way he did with his own daughter and kids.
- Saika, Pakistan
This sick pig deserves nothing but the worst punishment that can be handed down by the Austrian government. For a father to do this to his own child or any child....what kind of sick freak would do that? He will burn in hell for what he has done...
With angry tears flowing I pray for the daughter and her children. Twenty four years of hell...I cant even imagine.
- Elisha, Oklahoma, USA
This is the most cruel, disgusting and immoral thing that I have ever heard. My heart bleeds for the victim and her children. What kind of a person could do such a thing? He deserves to burn in hell!
- Missie, Durban, South Africa
This is ridiculous, how could a person get away with something like this. Or even better yet, how could someone be this sick? This is just unacceptable to society as a whole and to call this "bad" is such an understatement. To kill this man would not be enough compared to the people he made suffer. Whatever he gets is way to good for him.
- Alex Crawley, Mount Pearl, Newfoundland (Canada)
Thats honestly the most crazy story I have ever heard... The father deserves the worst he can get...
- Sandra, san diego, ca, usa
This is the worst case of child abuse I have ever heard of!
- Nina Weeks, Douglas Georgia USA
Its a real shame knowing that abuse like this hasn't ceased to exist in our society, it continues to plague our children and women. May God protect Elizabeth and her children & provide them strength in knowing they are safe now.
- Jessica Cruz, Chalan Pago, GUAM
I'm sorry but I have a very hard time believing that Rosemarie had no idea that something was going on. I sincerely hope that if she did she gets the same punishment that he is given. Death is too quick and easy for what he did. He destroyed lives and robbed them of the simple joys of being children and he did it over a prolonged period of time. He robbed his daughter of her entire life and my mind won't let me think of anything bad enough to give him what he deserves. The saddest thing is no matter what happens to him now he got by with this for 24 years and that can't be changed.
- Terri, Little Rock, USA
This is quite possibly the saddest, most sadistic thing I have ever heard about in my life. Evil is a word people toss around too much, but this man is pure evil. He's almost not even a human being. I can only hope that Elisabeth can somehow recover from what this disgusting man has done to her to lead a happy life. The death penalty is almost too good for this pervert
- Richard, Hamilton, Canada
I truly and deeply hurt for Elisabeth Fritzl. We all know that nothing will ever fully heal her severely broken spirit and soul, she'll never know true happiness-what that feels like, never live without fear, never trust anyone 100%, other than her kids, ever. I cannot imagine the many years of torment she surely suffered from just the pure want of escaping the dungeon, the plans and schemes she must of come up with over and over and over in her head to try to get away that didn't work, kept coming up empty. I can't image the tears. I can't imagine what it must have felt like for her to ultimately give up trying to get away and then try to concentrate on raising her kids, the ones he let her keep, as best she could. Lord Jesus have mercy on beautiful Elisabeth and all of her children. And thank God for allowing it to happen that they got away from true evil disguised as human being.
- Angie Flynn, San Antonio, Texas - USA
This man is nasty,disgusting human being and is not even worthy of being called a man because a true man would not do what he has done to his daughter and his wife is surely blind or prefer to live in denial of what her husband was doing. He has entirely ruined his daughter's life to satisfy his twisted desires but only God can truly punish him the way he deserves to be punished. I am truly sorry for the innocent lives of the children that have been tangled up in this incestuous web. I pray God be with them .
- Nakita, Bridgetown,Barbados
When this evil man would go on long holidays to far away countries like Thailand, who would guard and provide food, etc. to his captives? Obviously, someone else was also involved.
Since, this is the second similar case in Austria, police should investigate all apartments linked with all missing persons to see that they are not being held captive. For this thermal imaging should be used.
- Paul, Calcutta, India.
How sick even of thinking it, how can a father do that!
- Rifaat Malik, Batley
After reading all details...and being a mother myself. I seem to feel more angry at Rosemarie then Josef. How could any mother in her right mind accept the lies Josef had told her about their daughter Elisabeth when she first went missing...as though "Oh well lets move on then..." as a mother I wouldn't accept any reasoning over why my daughter was missing until I found her and asked her myself..? How could she have not searched for her?
How is it possible that Rosemarie was never curious enough to go into the cellar to see why her husband was often in there? And how did she not hear construction noises like hammers etc when it was renovated to make more room in there?
How is it that poor Elisabeth gave birth seven times and her mother did not hear either the yelling from her daughter in pain or her grandchildren crying?
And how can any person accept from their husband that a child was found in our yard so lets keep it and adopt it!! Wouldn't you ask questions? Get the child to a hospital and checked out? SOMETHING!?
Rosemarie needs to be flogged as much as Josef! I think they need to look harder at this character. It makes you wonder how many other people are going through this same thing in different countries around the world.
Its sick!
I'm horrified and disgusted in our human race these days...from kidnap-rape-murder-to religion wars and terrorists. Why would anyone want to bring a child into a world so messed up.
- Tegan, Hervey Bay, Australia
What Josef did to his 8 children was unthinkable, it is amazing they were able to survive for the length of time they did. I can not even imagine what his wife Rosemarie, must be thinking and feeling. I think Elisabeth did a great job of raising her children with what she had to deal with and what was given to her from her father. I truly hope they all are able to receive the very best help and care this world can give these children and their mothers.
- Kathy, Davie ,USA
I think that this is a very sick story. How could anyone do that to there child, and for the mother, I feel that she did know. How can you not know where your daughter is for 24 years. She has been missing since she was 19. I think she should get the same punishment as the husband. He is less than human and needs to be treated as such. My heart goes out to all of the kids as well as the daughter. I will keep them in my prayers and hope that justice is served. How can a mother just allow anything like that to be done to her child. She is sick as well. I hope neither one of them will be able to see the light of day ever again. They should be tortured, just like those kids, I hope that they are locked in a dungeon with no sunlight and no available source of the outside world.
- Tasha, United States
When I heard this story I cried, it is very sad what those children and their mother had to go through. I hope God sends him to hell and I hope they could find happiness in the world and give their life to God and they will be sure that something good will be there for them in the end.
- Lonique Ryan, St Vincent and the Grenadines
It is hard to believe that someone would do such a thing. His mind is and spirit is severely evil, and he will have his part in the lake of fire. Then again, maybe he has repented. But what can be assured is, he will receive severe punishment for what he did, starting yesterday. Every person with an evil fetish has their purpose for what they did.
- Brittinay, Houston, tx USA
My heart goes out to the poor children, especially Elisabeth. I have no words to express how this man should be tortured.
- Darrin, New York, USA
GOD will make sure this freak lives in eternal hell.
- Shooter, NYC, USA
He must be killed, in a torturous way, that this sick world get ride of such a dirt. What the hell is that country, why the daughter did not object before age of 19, why did not manage to do something to get ride of such a father...
- Vn, Middle East
Send the old man to China, they will have a full confession in a days time, and probably execute him in an hour.
- Rouzbeh, Canada
I pray that God has mercy on his soul for this great tragedy he has committed against his own family.
- Revswife, Cleveland, USA
Truth is stranger than fictions.
- Mun, Barrackpore,kolkata india
None of words can be used expressing this disgusting secret!
- Tram, Australia
The man is sick. He needs to be made to suffer just like he made his own daughter and those poor children suffer. There is no way a mother would sit by after the 'disappearance' of her daughter and accept the fact that three of her missing daughter's children just show up on her doorstep at different times. That woman knew what was going on. If she doesn't face charges or get convicted, God's justice will prevail.
This is a sick, sick world. A shame when a child has to live in fear of their parents.
- Robin, New York, NY
Anyone see the film hostel? This sick stuff goes on every day in each country of the world. Hell on Earth.
- Jesse, Boston, USA
I don't care how old he is he need to be put in the same conditions and let him live out the rest of his life in there. He is nasty and his wife deep down inside knew what was happening. He need to be taught a lesson lock him up and watch him go crazy. He wouldn't last a couple of months like that.
- Tyrone, Canton, Georgia
The father is totally sick. There is no way that you can remain breathing among the human race being this cruel to your own flesh and blood let alone anyone else. This was his daughter and he had a wife. He should be electrocuted and castrated as soon as possible.
It is a very sad, sad ordeal that has not been addressed until now and will take some time. As for the mother, you should be locked away in a room equivalent to the size of the one your daughter/grandchildren.
The mother/grandmother also needs a lot of time to see where she went wrong. How could you not look into where the children came from. Where your daughter is and so forth.
This just leaves me at a loss for words.
- Aliyah Parker, Newark, NJ
This guy should be put away in a mental ward and not just for 15 years like they wanted to do for his prison sentence. Throw him in for life...If he did it do his daughter what makes you think he wont do it to someone else's that he does not know. He obviously did not feel remorse when he held his daughter for 24 years and what makes you think doing 15 years in the pen is going to make him change his mind. It wont this man is not right in the head and needs to be treated as such. I would be feel complete let down by the judicial system if I were this woman's family member. Where were all of them when this happened? Bottom line ... this man is sick and should be treated.
- Heather B., Wayland MI
It seems very unlikely the wife wasn't aware of these crimes. A special concession should be made to serve Fritzl and his wife the same fate they so carefully and cruelly planned for their child and grandchildren.
- Jeff, Atlanta, USA
More government is no solution to this kind of evil. You could have all the "oversight" you want, even interrogations of citizens at random, and such evil would still exist. In fact, he would have gotten away with it especially if he had been a government employee or official.
- Jennifer, Seattle, USA
They should stick this guy in a cell that is only 4'x4' and feed him viagra at least 2 times a day and keep his hands tied behind his back. The sick SOB.
- Kim, Frederick, USA
Thank God they were freed, better late then never because the monster might have died soon and they may have never been found alive. Out of so many people living in that building, how can it be that nobody ever went down there? Kids cry and I'm sure these kids cried at night, nobody ever wondered? I read about this story yesterday and haven't stopped thinking about it, it must be the most shocking thing I've heard in my life. Very disturbing. May God be with Elisabeth and her kids, God help them.
- Maggie, Detroit, MI
Fifteen years for this crime? Fitzl should be locked away for life without parole. What is wrong with Austria's criminal system? This monster may be free one day- such a horrible thought.
Hopefully Elizabeth and her children will find peace and comfort.
Prayers around the world are with these tragic victims.
- Lily, Houston USA
Eye for an eye still would not be enough for this monster. How can you ever heal from such an awful ordeal. Thoughts and prayers for all his children.
- Kari, Milwaukee, WI USA
My children and I would like to if there is any way that Elisabeth could be sent messages of support and reassurance that there is some good in the world.
If so please let me know by email.
- Michael Bleaney, binalong bay Tasmania
An absolute fiend with an evil look that matches the untermensch he is.
- Richard, Newport News, VA USA
This 'man' is evil personified, not fit to move among decent people. There is no way of punishing his crimes that would reflect the sheer horror that he has chronically inflicted on eight innocent children.
Tragically, I suspect there are many more demons like this all over the world - and many more who apathetically turn a blind eye.
- Deb, Calne, Wilts
This is a chilling case that should remind us all why child sexual abuse is so dangerous, and why we must all pay attention to what is happening to children around us.
This psychopathic father started to abuse his daughter from when she was 11. It's quite clear to me that when he realised that she was growing up and was likely to leave home and get away from him, he decided to keep her all for himself by locking her up. I doubt very much that the mother didn't know what was going on under her roof for 7 long years. She may not have known about the incarceration but she certainly would have known about the abuse that preceded it. Unfortunately mothers often collude with the perpetrator by turning a blind eye.
In reports I have seen today on Australian TV and on BBC World they forget to mention that the abuse started 7 years before he locked her up. By so doing they make it sound as if it was a freak case. It was extreme but abuse of children happens all the time. In Australia, 1 in every 4 girls is being sexually abused by someone they know. Perpetrators are often psychopaths who feel nothing for their victims, and who believe that they simply have a right to take what they want.
My heart goes out to the woman and her children. I don't know how they can ever get over something like this, but I will pray for her.
- Avigail Abarbanel, Psychotherapist/Counsellor, Canberra, Australia
How do you begin to heal from this?
I'll pray for the Elizabeth and the children..
As for him. I pray he'll be locked in a box for eternity. No windows.
- Renita, Circleville, Ohio USA
This editorial gives us the chills, to think that this could be happening in our own communities is mind blowing. I truly believe that these evil creatures should suffer the maximum punishment for the rest of their lives. We just think that its tragic that this predator has been caught out in his later years. He'll die soon anyway and hopefully he'll get his return in hell. We pray these children are safe and grasp the beauty of life. Another issue is the mother, how could she not go out and look for her daughter. There must be an underlying issue, she remains quiet through this whole ordeal.
The government? Seventy years ago? The water was off? Who knows. All we know is this man is sick, twisted and he could be our very own next door neighbour...Makes you think twice about the people you surround yourself with.
- Jay N Bee, Victoria, Australia
He should be locked in a port- a- cabin toilet for the rest of his sad, sorry, excuse of a life!
He needs to be severely punished as an example to any other weirdos like him out there. I hope Elizabeth and her children can live the rest of their lives in happiness. My prayers are with them.
- Amani, Birmingham
I am a 6"4 325 pound former football player send him down here to Louisiana, I will take care of him.
- Jason, South louisiana
Pure evil. Our hearts cry for that young lady who spent so many years in hell at the hands of her own father. Please let her know that her Father in heaven loves her. God bless her and all her children and may her earthly father rot in prison, but indeed, the prison he goes to will be much more humane than the prison he had his own daughter in. Our prayers go out to her, her children and the community who have to deal with this. The world hurts for her.
- Mark, Lovettsville, VA
This man should live the rest of his days in a tiny cell with no window and be kept alive as long as possible.
- Daniel Hansen, Portland, OR USA
This is simply horrible. To imply this type of thing only happens in Germany, or the USA or any other country is ignorant. This is probably happening more than we all realize in MANY different countries. Abhorrent human behaviour is not refined to just one single nation. Paedophiles are everywhere and that is what this disgusting man is.
One thing I don't understand, though, is the ignorance of his wife? I do not believe she is 100% ignorant. I think she knew exactly what this man was about, but was in denial. I just cannot believe he hasn't abused other children in the past....paedophiles aren't usually "loyal" to just one. So, there is more to this story, than meets the eye.
I do pray for Elisabeth and her children. What a legacy they have, and such obstacles to overcome, but hopefully they can move forward from here.
- Dee, USA
Cassandra, try living what this poor woman did all her life. I'm sure you would see the circumstances differently. The man should be thrown into a barren cell and left to rot.
- Katie, Sandiego,CA
He must belong to the republican party.
- Anarchist, washington DC, USA
Cassandra - you have got to be kidding. Are you saying that she had it better than those with "far worse" WC conditions? How can those two options even be compared?! "Freedom" is everything it is cracked up to be, ask this man's daughter and I am sure she would agree.
- Paige, Knoxville, TN
Cassandra, do you have a heart? Do you realize what you just said?
- Frank Drone, Seattle, USA
While we were travelling in Austria, I believe they told us they did the same thing there that they do in the South, roll their own.
- Mic Mac, Tullahoma USA
Cassandra, Boston, USA
Sometimes "freedom" isn't all that it's cracked up to be.
Have you ever heard of the killing fields or a gulag? Woman are you nuts? This is a person who did this. Not a government, not the people. What, are you a Stalinist?
- Peter Riley, The Colony TX USA
I'm surprised there aren't more comments to this article. I think collectively we are all shocked by this pure evil. Our hearts cry out for this woman and her children. Dear God, please extend your loving hand and wrap them ever so close to you.
- Michael Crosby, Brea, USA
I can't believe his wife, her mother, knew nothing about this. I just can't believe it. Did she think she had large rats living under the floor?<BR>
- Isabel, Woking, England
Cassandra from Boston - are you actually implying that this woman - raped, held captive in a basement for decades, her children born there and never seeing the light of day - should be grateful for what they had? Why don't you give her life a try and see how you like it?
- Julie, Pittsburgh, USA
Cassandra, what are you trying to say? Boy, you really missed the point!
- Joe, Alex, VA
Cassandra you are weird. You are one of the most free people on this planet...try living in Cuba for a year, and then your statement,
(Sometimes "freedom" isn't all that it's cracked up to be.)
might make more sense.
- Jeannie, California, USA
Just when you think the world can't shock you anymore!
- Julie, Essex
For me the little town of "Amstetten" is like a personal Auschwitz.
I hope this monster will live till it's 120 years to only suffer a little bit for his list of sins.
- Peter, Munich, Germany
None of us know the depth of pain and horror this poor girl/woman has suffered. I pray God will help her and her children in every way to overcome this horrendous sin she has been subjected to. Oh to be a fly on the wall, when this monster meets his maker! I pray with all my heart for her healing and her children, and the rest of their lives are blessed more than ever. I pray every night for the abuse to stop for children all over the world...maybe, this time it was answered, and I will continue as there are thousands more somewhere. Please pray worldwide for child abuse to stop.
- Mary Ann Peters, Fredericksburg, Texas ,USA
For Cassandra:
Freedom isn't all it's cracked up to be? What are you thinking...this woman was held for a quarter of a century!
- Ann, New York, NY
No one can persuade me that the wife didn't know about this going on for 24 years. There were human beings living underneath her and she didn't know? C'mon!
- Arnold Ziffle, Salisbury, Maryland USA
Was this chamber so deep that this poor daughter could not holler and be heard in the house, or figure out a way to break out? I've heard of men maintaining second families in other states without their spouses knowing, but how does a man keep anyone in the same house for 24 years without being found out? How did she get clothes? How did the father explain the purchase of clothes and food he and his wife weren't using? As tragic and horrible as this story is, some of the reported facts aren't making sense.
- Jack, Washington, DC USA
Don't live in Austria. Apparently, no one keeps up with their neighbours insane behaviour.
- Gman, usa
Horrible.
- M Mundy, Houston, Tx U.S.A, Houston, TX U.S.A.
Michael Cooper,
Evidently it is not.
- Johnny Peepers, McKee's Rock, PA USA
Even serial killers are more normal than this guy.
- Will Adams, Boston, USA
The pictures of the WC and sink show "the ramshackle state of the hiding place"?! I'm ashamed to say that I've seen WCs of people who live free and in the open and have conditions that are far worse than those shown.
Sometimes "freedom" isn't all that it's cracked up to be.
- Cassandra, Boston, USA
This is a horrific crime, it sounds almost unbelievable. That this man could do this, and harbour this crime for so long, and live a normal life. This is pure evil, and I pray this woman, and her children get all the help they need. This woman has lost years of her life, this is a tragic ordeal.
- L. Butler, Fort Rucker, Alabama, USA
Is this an Austrian thing or is it just coincidence?
- Adam, Harrow, UK
Shocking... the poor girl, and those poor kids... it makes me sick to think about the kind of person who can do that to another, let alone your own flesh & blood.
- W Joseph, London, England
This is too shocking to comment!
- Michael Cooper, London
I can't believe that such a thing could have an outcome like this, what a miracle that they were freed! It is extremely disturbing to hear and read! It just goes to show, you can never judge a book by its cover, as well as a lot of terrible stories like this is happening as I type and as you read. What a world we live in. I pray that our Heavenly father extends his hands down to those whom are damned criminals, whom commit such crimes and let them spend all of eternity in the river of fire in hell!
- Clare, Qld, Australia
How sad and shocking is this story, how can a father do this to his own daughter, they should do the same to the father throw him in a underground coded lock cell and throw away the code.
- Laura Comber, Tower Hamlets London
