When news broke out about a family man in Austria, who had sexually abused and locked up his own daughter in a dungeon come cell, for 24 years and the fact she gave birth to 7 of his children was sickening behond belief. The man was Josef Fritzl has confessed to keeping his daughter, Elisabeth Fritlz now 42, in an underground soundproof cell since she was 18 years old. Fritzl also confessed to having begun sexually abusing his daughter since the age of 11 and the reason behind her imprisonment is believed to be that Elisabeth had threatened to leave home when she turned 18.
The soundproof cell was built beneath the family garden, which Fritzl eventually covered with flowers and lawn so it did not arouse suspicions amongst neighbours. The stroy Fritzl conjured up was that Elisabeth had runaway with a religious sect which were reinforced by letters sent from her, almost certainly under duress, stating: “dont look for me”.
Fritzl’s wife Rosemarie 78, was unaware of the prison which was only accessible through Fritzl’s private workshop, which eventually had to be expanded due to the rise in the size of the secret family being kept hidden away from the world. This case has certain parrallels with natascha Kampusch, a vienna school girl abducted in 1998, wo finally escaped from her captors in 2006. Below is a timeline of the horrific time Elisabeth and her children suffered and an accurate outline of what is now being known as the ‘House of Horrors’.
TIMELINE
August 1984 Elisabeth,18, is lured into her family home’s cellar by her father, Josef, who locks her away.
!988-1989 A Letter in Elisabeth’s handwriting tells Josef and his wife Rosemarie not to look for her. Rosemarie is unaware of what her husband has done. Elisabeth gives brith to Kerstin, the first of seven children, secretly born in the cellar. Her second child, Stefan, is born a year later.
May 1993: A nine-month-old baby, now believed to be called Lise, is found outside the family home with a not from Elisabeth asking for the child to be cared for by its grandparents.
1994 Elisabeth gives birth to Monika, also left on the doorstep with a note.
1996 Elisabeth has twins but one dies within three days. The body is taken away by Josed who burns it.
1997 The surviving twin, Alexander, is moved upstairs – again after being ”found” outside the Fritzl home.
2002 Elisabeth has Felix. He is raised in the cellar with Kerstin and Stefan.
19 April 2008 Kerstin is admitted to hospital. Doctors advise police to ask mother to come forward.
26 April 2008 Police pick up Josef and Elisabeth near the hospital where Kerstin is being treated. Later, Josef confesses to incest and the abduction of Elisabeth, and to being the father of her children. The children, now aged between five and 19 years, are placed in care. Elisabeth begins to recive psychological treatment in hospital.
