Crime Austrian incest father, 88, could soon be eligible to apply for release - Fritzl wants to be moved to a nursing home

Austrian incest father, 88, could soon be eligible to apply for release
Reuters (archive.ph)
By Reuters Staff
2024-01-16 15:26:53GMT


Defendant Josef Fritzl is pictured during proceedings on the last day the last day of his trial at the court of law in Sankt Poelten in Austria's province of Lower Austria March 19, 2009.REUTERS/POOL/Robert Jaeger/File Photo

Jan 16 (Reuters) - An Austrian man who held his daughter captive for 24 years and fathered seven children with her could be transferred from a unit for the criminally insane to prison where he would be eligible to apply for release, a court official said on Tuesday.

The 88-year-old man, widely known as Josef Fritzl but who now has a new name, was sentenced in 2009 to life imprisonment in the special unit. If transferred to a regular jail, he could apply for early release on parole 15 years after his conviction.

He was convicted of incest, rape, coercion, false imprisonment, enslavement and for the negligent homicide of one of his infant sons.

An expert opinion on Fritzl's medical condition is being assessed to see if he can be transferred to a regular detention facility, a spokesperson for the regional court of Krems said. Austria's Kronen Zeitung was first to report the expert opinion.

The court spokesperson said it was unclear how long such an assessment would take, estimating it could range from weeks to a couple of months.

If transferred to prison, Fritzl's lawyer could in a second step submit an application for early release.

His lawyer told German daily Bild she had already prepared such an application, adding the aim would be to transfer the man to a nursing home.

Fritzl imprisoned his daughter Elisabeth in the basement of the family home when she was 18. Three of the seven children he fathered with Elisabeth lived with her until they were freed in 2008.

Fritzl and his wife fostered the other three surviving children after Fritzl claimed Elisabeth had given birth to them and then abandoned them to join a religious sect.

He burnt the remains of the seventh child, who died shortly after birth, in the house furnace.

Writing by Nette Nöstlinger; Editing by Nick Macfie

 

[Breadbassket]

Remember the cellar.

The rest of the Fritzl family lived in the house upstairs and had been forbidden by the domineering Josef Fritzl from ever going into the cellar, where the dungeon was.

The secret location was so well hidden that when the police searched the property they failed to find it until Mr Fritzl showed them where it was.

To get to the dungeon you had to pass through five different rooms in the cellar - including a room containing a furnace, a small office room and Mr Fritzl's workshop. Hidden behind a shelf in the workshop was a one metre-high reinforced concrete door.

The workshop and cellar area was strictly off limits to the Fritzl family members who lived upstairs.

Mr Fritzl sublet parts of the family house to tenants - who recall being forbidden to enter the cellar.

"Whoever enters it will be given immediate notice," one former tenant was told, according to the Austrian newspaper Kurier.

The secret door was electronically locked and could only be opened with a special code and a remote control

The rooms were described as being neat and tidy. There were no windows. The three children who lived in the cellar, a 19-year-old girl and her two brothers, aged 18 and five, had never seen daylight, and grew up with artificial light.

They had no fresh air and no room to exercise or run around. Hospital officials said the lack of oxygen may have contributed to the daughter's illness, which brought the whole case to light when Mr Fritzl took her to hospital. Police described the two boys as very pale, small and weak.

Children's paintings and posters were hung on the walls. Police say there was a television with a video player and a radio.

All of the seven children were born in the dungeon without medical supervision. One died shortly after being born.

As Mr Fritzl's secret family grew, he began to enlarge the dungeon. Police say it is still unclear how he managed to carry out this construction work secretly, as well as deliver food and clothing to his daughter and the three children without being noticed.

They believe the underground dungeon was originally one room, equipped only with washing facilities, which was gradually enlarged over the years. It is thought Mr Fritzl may also have expanded under the house's garden.

 

[Brenda Holiday]

Why hasn't someone beaten this old fuck to death yet? I thought he was already dead.

 

[Beautiful Border]

How much of a despicable piece of shit do you have to be that someone can describe you as an "incest father" and that still somehow sounds like an understatement?

 

[derpherp2]

Jesus fuck what do the kids look like.

 

[draggs]

He should have been eligible to face the wall and done so

 

[Shamefur Dispray]

Ah the man who partly inspired Viper.
You'll cowards don't even kidnap women.

 

[GamerGateSurvivor]

He looks like he hasn't aged much.

Then again, I'm sure moving from a basement incest dungeon to a West European prison is a huge improvement.

 

[clipartfan92]

He looks like he hasn't aged much.

The photo is dated from his trial in 2009. I'm sure he's looking like absolute shit these days.

 

[Sparkling Yuzu]

Fritzl imprisoned his daughter Elisabeth in the basement of the family home when she was 18. Three of the seven children he fathered with Elisabeth lived with her until they were freed in 2008.

Fritzl and his wife fostered the other three surviving children after Fritzl claimed Elisabeth had given birth to them and then abandoned them to join a religious sect.

He burnt the remains of the seventh child, who died shortly after birth, in the house furnace.

I wonder if they died due to the genetic issues of being inbred or lack of obstetrical care?

 

[glass_houses]

Nursing home? Give him to me and I'll save the Austrians the fees to keep him. I know of a few abandoned mine shafts where he'll feel right at home. Fuck, I'll even pay them for the privilege of dropping that evil fuck down a hole forever!

 

[Schwarzwald]

The state of Alabama is offering him refugee status and citizenship due to unjust persecution for his lifestyle in his home nation.

 

[Mike Matei's Penis]

I always thought he was Australian.

 

[Scarlett Johansson]

This case still creeps me out. Why are they releasing this sick fuck?

 

[I'm Really Feeling It]

How do pieces of shit like this manage to live until fucking 88? Oh I know, on the taxpayer's dime probably.

 

[The Mass Shooter Ron Soye]

Remember the cellar.

As Mr Fritzl's secret family grew, he began to enlarge the dungeon. Police say it is still unclear how he managed to carry out this construction work secretly, as well as deliver food and clothing to his daughter and the three children without being noticed.

They believe the underground dungeon was originally one room, equipped only with washing facilities, which was gradually enlarged over the years. It is thought Mr Fritzl may also have expanded under the house's garden.

A family the tunnel troon could only dream of.

 

[Foltest]

Christ, I remember this case.
One of the most unnerving cases that I have read.
That it come to light not long after Kampusch case were also crazy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natascha_Kampusch

Anyway, I hope this fucker get killed.

 

[Vesperus]

Jesus Christ just make the fucker dig a hole then throw him in it.

 

[Pierre D'Olnique]

This case still creeps me out. Why are they releasing this sick fuck?

He's 88. He'll trip over something and die. Or maybe they're hoping that whatever place he ends up in will have the locals administering justice themselves with the dude ending up strung and skinned between some tries for everyone to see.

 

[Male Idiot]

Chris chan has given him his special Jesus Sonichu CPU forgiveness blessing and he is getting out of jail!