Police Say Josef Fritzl Had Seven Children With Daughter He Held Captive For 24 Years

April 29, 2008

Police in Amstetten, Austria are investigating a 73-old-man who they say held his 42-year-old daughter prisoner in a cellar for the last 24 years.  Police also allege the man, identified only as Josef Fritzl, fathered seven children with his daughter, Elisabeth Fritzl, one of whom died at birth.

Details remain sketchy, but it appears that the case began to unravel on April 19, when one of the imprisoned children, 19-year-old Kerstin Fritzl, fell seriously ill.  According to police, Josef took Kerstin to a local hospital for treatment.  He allegedly informed hospital staff that Kerstin was his granddaughter and that her mother had been missing since 1984.  However, unbeknownst to Josef, Elisabeth had hidden a note on her daughter, alerting hospital staff that she was being held captive in her father's basement.

While police investigated the case, the hospital issued a public appeal, asking that Elisabeth's mother come forward to help them diagnose Kerstin's ailments.  Elisabeth saw the televised appeal Saturday and somehow convinced her father to take her to the hospital.  As those events began to unfold, police reportedly received the results of DNA tests that the hospital had conducted which revealed that Kerstin's grandfather was also her father.  Shortly thereafter, police intercepted Josef and Elisabeth en route to the hospital.

According to police, Elisabeth appeared "greatly disturbed" and would agree to speak with authorities only after they promised her that she would not have to have any further contact with her father.  Once satisfied with the reassurances that she received from the authorities, Elisabeth began to recount a story which police would later refer to in the press as "one of Austria's all-time worst crimes..."

Continue Reading Josef Fritzl Incest Case

Photo's Courtesy of Austrian police

Comments

[Hans Ficken]

I say hang the guy. I feel sorry for the poor kids.

[Bill]

Thank god he got caught because they would have all starved to death in that basement when Josef F died

[Lea Joanna]

I read the news, shocking... I have been through something similar between 5 to 14 years old but managed to run away. I always thought my life is sad enough but after reading about Elizebeth, I felt i am so fortunate... Things could get worst for me. I really feeling sorry for her. I really hope she can put everything behind her but It's gonna take lot more than repeating psychiatrist session to get over it.
I am truly spechless...

[Speechless]

Speechless is right. How will the children he fathered get through this? Did he die already? IF he did it's too bad, I would of liked to see his daughter get her justice in court. OMG!

[liz]

who the heck would do that...