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76-401: The Fritzl case emerged in 2008, when a woman named Elisabeth Fritzl (born 6 April 1966) informed investigators in the city of Amstetten , Lower Austria , that she had been held captive for 24 years by her father, Josef Fritzl (born 9 April 1935). Fritzl had assaulted , sexually abused and raped his daughter countless times during her imprisonment inside a concealed area in the cellar of
152-406: A remote control unit. In order to reach this door, five locking basement rooms had to be crossed. To get to the area where Elisabeth and her children were held, eight doors in total needed to be unlocked, of which two doors were additionally secured by electronic locking devices. The trial of Josef Fritzl began on 16 March 2009, in the city of Sankt Pölten , presided over by Judge Andrea Humer. On
228-414: A criminal, a no-good", and that he "had a horrible fear of her." In 1959, after Fritzl had married and bought his house, his mother moved in with them. Over time, their roles reversed, and his mother came to fear him. Eventually, he also admitted he had later locked his mother in the attic and bricked up her window after telling neighbors that she had died, keeping her locked away until her death in 1980. It
304-480: A dance and music school. Amstetten has a train station that is served by OEBB trains and the Westbahn trains. From the station, there are direct rail services to Vienna, Munich and Salzburg as well as local tourist attraction Melk. Amstetten is twinned with: Tarpaulin A tarpaulin ( / t ɑːr ˈ p ɔː l ɪ n / tar- PAW -lin , also US : / ˈ t ɑːr p ə l ɪ n / ) or tarp
380-418: A diversity of factors, such as material type ( polyethylene , canvas , vinyl , etc.), thickness, which is generally measured in mils or generalized into categories (such as "regular duty", "heavy duty", "super heavy duty", etc.), and grommet strength (simple vs. reinforced), among others. Actual tarp sizes are generally about three to five percent smaller in each dimension than nominal size; for example,
456-529: A former monastery in Upper Austria converted into a prison. In 2008, Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer said he planned to launch a foreign public image campaign for his country, in light of the "abominable events." Judge Humer, who presided over the trial, stated medical experts reported Elisabeth and her children were in "relatively good health." After being taken into care, Elisabeth, all six of her surviving children and her mother were housed in
532-422: A fortress-like house. All of the children require ongoing therapy. Factors that traumatised the "upstairs" children include learning that Fritzl had lied to them about their mother abandoning them, the abuse they had received from him during their childhood, and finding out that their siblings had been imprisoned in the cellar. The "downstairs" children receive therapy due to their deprivation from normal development,
608-512: A friend from work. She was found by police within three weeks and returned to her parents in Amstetten. Elisabeth re-joined her waitress course, finished it in mid-1984 and was offered a job in Linz. On 28 August 1984, after Elisabeth had turned 18, Fritzl lured her into the basement of the family home, saying that he needed help carrying a door. In reality, he had been converting the basement into
684-400: A guesthouse and an adjacent campsite at Lake Mondsee , managing the property, together with his wife, until 1996. In 1967, Fritzl broke into the Linz home of a 24-year-old nurse while her husband was away and raped her while holding a knife to her throat, threatening to kill her if she screamed. According to an annual report for 1967 and a press release of the same year, he was also named as
760-457: A high abrasion resistance and tear strength. These resist oil, acid, grease and mildew . The vinyl tarp is ideal for agriculture, construction, industrial, trucks, flood barrier and temporary roof repair. Tarp tents may be made of silnylon . For years manufacturers have used a color code to indicate the grade of tarpaulins, but not all manufacturers follow this traditional method of grading. Following this color-coded system, blue indicates
836-472: A hinged door that weighed 500 kg (1,100 lb), which is thought to have become unusable over the years because of its weight, and a metal door, reinforced with concrete and on steel rails that weighed 300 kg (660 lb), and measured 1 m (3.3 ft) high and 60 cm (2.0 ft) wide. It was located behind a shelf in Fritzl's basement workshop, protected by an electronic code entered using
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#1732793283830912-500: A lightweight tarp, and typically has a weave count of 8×8 and a thickness of 0.005–0.006 in (0.13–0.15 mm). Silver is a heavy-duty tarp and typically has a weave count of 14×14 and a thickness of 0.011–0.012 in (0.28–0.30 mm). Some of the more common colors in that scheme are: The word tarpaulin originated as a compound of the words tar and palling , referring to a tarred canvas pall used to cover objects on ships . Sailors often tarred their own overclothes in
988-544: A local clinic, where they were shielded from the outside environment and received medical and psychological treatment. Members of the Fritzl family were offered new identities, but it was emphasized that it was their choice to make. Berthold Kepplinger, head of the clinic where Elisabeth and her children were being treated, said that Elisabeth and the three children held captive in the cellar required further therapy to help them adjust to natural light after years in semi-darkness. They also needed treatment to help them cope with all
1064-496: A major international producer/supplier of formwork , has their company headquarters in Amstetten. Amstetten has a variety of schools which cater to the needs of its residents, and residents of neighbouring villages. These include a Gymnasium, HLW Amstetten and HAK Amstetten. Language learning in Amstetten is enhanced greatly by the presence of English Language Assistants from the UK and USA, who also run regular extra-curricular events in
1140-403: A makeshift prison chamber. The door was the last thing he needed to seal it. After Elisabeth held the door in place while Fritzl fitted it into the frame, he held an ether -soaked towel on her face until she was unconscious, then threw her into the chamber. After Elisabeth's disappearance, Rosemarie filed a missing persons report. Almost a month later, Fritzl handed over a letter to the police,
1216-623: A minimum of three times a week, bringing food and other supplies, and repeatedly raping Elisabeth. She gave birth to seven children during her captivity. One child died shortly after birth. Three—Lisa, Monika, and Alexander—were removed from the chamber as infants to live with Fritzl and his wife, who were approved by local social services authorities as their foster parents. Officials said that Fritzl "very plausibly" explained how three of his infant grandchildren had appeared on his doorstep. The family received regular visits from social workers, who saw and heard nothing to arouse their suspicions. Following
1292-466: A nearby bus stop. When she did not show up for an agreed meeting with her boyfriend at around 5 p.m., he called Posch's mother, who had assumed her daughter was already with the boyfriend. She later learned that Posch had not shown up for work that day. Authorities soon determined through witness statements that she had not been on the bus that morning either. On 22 November 1986, two scuba divers found Posch's body wrapped in two olive green tarpaulins on
1368-468: A passageway to a pre-existing basement area under the old part of the property, of which only he knew. The concealed cellar had a 5 m-long (16 ft) corridor, a storage area and three small open cells, connected by narrow passageways, and a basic cooking area and bathroom facilities, followed by two sleeping areas, which were equipped with two beds each. It covered an area of approximately 55 m (590 sq ft). The cell had two access points:
1444-530: A popular source when an inexpensive, water-resistant fabric is needed. Many amateur builders of plywood sailboats turn to polyethylene tarpaulins for making their sails, as it is inexpensive and easily worked. With the proper type of adhesive tape , it is possible to make a serviceable sail for a small boat with no sewing . Plastic tarps are sometimes used as a building material in communities of indigenous North Americans. Tipis made with tarps are known as tarpees . Tarpaulins can be classified based on
1520-599: A region of the province Lower Austria ). Amstetten is situated between Linz (60 km; 40 miles) and Vienna (120 km; 75 miles) on the highway and just over an hour from Vienna by highspeed-train, and lies on the river Ybbs and Url [ de ] as well near the Danube river. There are traces of human settlements from the Stone Age and the Bronze Age in the area. The first permanent settlement in
1596-496: A sexual disorder, recommending that Fritzl receive psychiatric care for the rest of his life. Later reports have revealed Fritzl's premeditated plan to lock his daughter up was not for discipline, but for his own gratification. Pursuant to the agreement that she would never have to see her father again, Elisabeth gave videotaped testimony before Austrian prosecutors and investigators on 11 July 2008. On 13 November, authorities released an indictment against Fritzl. He stood trial for
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#17327932838301672-452: A small amount of water for a short period of time will not affect them, when there is standing water on canvas tarps, or when water cannot quickly drain away from canvas tarps, the standing water will drip through this type of tarp. Polyvinyl chloride ("vinyl") tarpaulins are industrial-grade and intended for heavy-duty use. They are constructed of 10 oz/sq yd (340 g/m ) coated yellow vinyl. This makes it waterproof and gives it
1748-439: A summer musical theatre made of amateurs and professionals entertains in what is called 'Musicalsummer Amstetten'. Amstetten has several churches. There is a small forest and a river for walking opportunities. There is an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, the 'Naturbad', which is designed to bring the aesthetics of a natural pool into a manmade pool. The pool has a sauna and a slide. There are several gyms in Amstetten as well as
1824-649: A suspect in a case of attempted rape of a 21-year-old woman and was known for indecent exposure . Fritzl was arrested and served twelve months of an eighteen-month prison sentence. In accordance with Austrian law, Fritzl's criminal record was expunged after fifteen years. As a result, more than 25 years later, the local social service authorities did not discover his criminal history when he applied to adopt and/or foster Elisabeth's children. On 12 November 1986, at 6:40 a.m., 17-year-old Martina Claudia Posch left her home in Vöcklabruck , Upper Austria , to reach
1900-409: A tarp nominally 20 ft × 20 ft (6.1 m × 6.1 m) will actually measure about 19 ft × 19 ft (5.8 m × 5.8 m). Grommets may be aluminum , stainless steel , or other materials. Grommet-to-grommet distances are typically between 18 in (460 mm) and 5 ft (1.5 m). The weave count is often between 8 and 12 per square inch: the greater
1976-437: A thing, yet it became a normal occurrence to lead a second life in the basement of my house." Regarding his treatment of the family he had with his wife, Fritzl stated, "I am not the beast the media make me to be." Regarding his treatment of Elisabeth and her children in the cellar, he explained that he brought flowers for Elisabeth and books and toys for the children into the "bunker", as he called it, and often watched videos with
2052-407: A time when Fritzl was on holiday there. Fritzl was not charged with these murders due to a lack of evidence. Following his arrest, Fritzl claimed that his behaviour toward his daughter did not constitute rape, but was consensual. In extracts from talks with his lawyer, Fritzl said that he "always knew during the whole 24 years that what I was doing was not right, that I must have been crazy to do such
2128-675: Is 23 years younger than Elisabeth, was reported to be ongoing, with him becoming a big-brother figure to her children. All of Elisabeth's children have developed normal sibling relationships with each other, and after having trouble dealing with the traumatic events, the three "upstairs" children slowly began recognising Elisabeth as their mother. The children enjoy being outdoors, playing video games and spending time with their mother and grandmother. Despite their strained relationship, Elisabeth and her mother started visiting each other more, and Elisabeth had reportedly forgiven her mother for believing her father's story. In June 2013, workers began filling
2204-885: Is a large sheet of strong, flexible, water-resistant or waterproof material, often cloth such as canvas or polyester coated with polyurethane , or made of plastics such as polyethylene . Tarpaulins often have reinforced grommets at the corners and along the sides to form attachment points for rope , allowing them to be tied down or suspended. Inexpensive modern tarpaulins are made from woven polyethylene; This material has become so commonly used for tarpaulins that people in some places refer to it colloquially as "poly tarp" or "polytarp" . Tarpaulins are used in many ways to protect persons and things from wind, rain, and sunlight. They are used during construction or after disasters to protect partially built or damaged structures, to prevent mess during painting and similar activities, and to contain and collect debris. They are used to protect
2280-556: Is helping us greatly to overcome these difficult times, and it shows us there also are good and honest people here who really care for us. We hope that soon there will be a time where we can find our way back into a normal life." Kerstin was reunited with her family on 8 June 2008, when she was awakened from her artificially induced coma . Doctors said that she would make a full recovery. It was revealed that Elisabeth and her children had been more traumatized than previously thought. During captivity, Kerstin tore out her hair in clumps and
2356-469: Is innate. During his prison sentence for the earlier rape conviction, he admitted that he planned to lock his daughter up so that he could contain and express his "evil side." He said, "I was born to rape, and I held myself back for a relatively long time. I could have behaved a lot worse than locking up my daughter." Kastner diagnosed Fritzl as having a "severe combined personality disorder " which included borderline , schizotypal and schizoid types and
Fritzl case - Misplaced Pages Continue
2432-475: Is said to have been so "harrowing" that the eight jurors did not watch more than two hours at a time. Four replacement jurors were on standby to replace any of the regular jurors in case they could not bear to hear any more of the evidence. Besides the video testimony, Elisabeth's older brother Harald testified that he was physically abused by Fritzl as a child. Fritzl's wife, Rosemarie, and Elisabeth's children refused to testify. On 18 March 2009, Elisabeth attended
2508-448: Is unknown how long Fritzl held his mother captive, but newspapers have speculated that it may have been up to twenty years. In a report by forensic psychiatrist Adelheid Kastner, Fritzl's mother is described as unpredictable and abusive. Fritzl referred to himself as an " alibi " child, meaning that his mother only gave birth to him to prove that she was not barren and could produce children. Fritzl claims that his pathological behaviour
2584-497: The Landesklinikum Amstetten , and was admitted in serious condition with life-threatening kidney failure . Fritzl later arrived at the hospital claiming to have found a note written by Kerstin's mother. He discussed Kerstin's condition and the note with a doctor, Albert Reiter. Medical staff found aspects of Fritzl's story puzzling and alerted police on 21 April. The police broadcast an appeal on public media for
2660-414: The "faulty pipes" or the gas heating system. On 19 April 2008, Fritzl agreed to seek medical attention after Kerstin, Elisabeth's eldest daughter, fell unconscious. Elisabeth helped him carry Kerstin out of the chamber and saw the outside world for the first time in 24 years. He forced Elisabeth to return to the chamber, where she remained for a final week. Kerstin was taken by ambulance to a local hospital,
2736-699: The City Hall (Rathaus) can provide programmes and leaflets. Johann Pölz Halle is the local concert hall where school balls, theatre performances and concerts are held. Amstetten has an annual 'Kulturwochen', a series of weeks in Autumn dedicated to Culture. This includes performances from the Amstetten Symphony Orchestra and local Amateur dramatic groups, as well as professional theatre, cabarets, story-telling, lectures and exhibitions. In Winter, Amstetten has its own Christmas Market. In Summer,
2812-584: The Fritzls were at the hospital, the police detained them on the hospital grounds and took them to a police station for questioning. Elisabeth did not provide police with more details until they promised her that she would never have to see her father again. Over the next two hours, she told the story of her 24 years in captivity. Elisabeth recounted that Fritzl raped her and forced her to watch pornographic videos, which he made her re-enact with him in front of her children in order to humiliate her. Fritzl, aged 73,
2888-478: The area to be mentioned in written sources was Ulmerfeld , mentioned in 995. The first mention of Amstetten itself is dated to 1111. In 1858, the town was linked to the rest of Austria-Hungary by railroad. Since 1868, it has also been the seat of the local district administration. During World War II , there were two subcamps of the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp in Amstetten. The Doka Group ,
2964-402: The basement of the Fritzl home with concrete. Estate liquidator Walter Anzboeck stated that the construction would cost € 100,000 and would take a week to complete. The house was to be sold on the open market. While most neighbours approved of the proposal, some preferred that the property be demolished due to its sordid history. In 2015, asylum seekers were offered the house to live in. The house
3040-551: The biological father of his daughter's children. His defence lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, said that although the DNA test proved incest, evidence was still needed for the allegations of rape and enslavement. In their 1 May daily press conference , police stated that Fritzl had forced Elisabeth to write a letter the previous year, which indicated that he may have been planning to release her and the children. The letter said that she wanted to come home but "it's not possible yet." Police believe Fritzl
3116-461: The cellar and was taken to the hospital by Fritzl himself. In March 2009, Fritzl pleaded guilty to all counts and was sentenced to life imprisonment . Josef Fritzl (now known as Mayrhoff) was born on 9 April 1935, in Amstetten , Lower Austria , to Josef Sr. and Maria ( née Nenning) Fritzl. He grew up as an only child raised solely by his working mother. His father, a severe alcoholic , deserted
Fritzl case - Misplaced Pages Continue
3192-417: The cellar door. According to his sister-in-law Christine, Fritzl entered the basement every morning at 09:00, ostensibly to draw plans for machines which he sold to manufacturing firms. He often stayed there for the night and did not allow his wife to bring him coffee. A tenant who rented a ground floor room in the house for twelve years claimed to hear noises from the basement, which Fritzl said were caused by
3268-495: The children and ate meals with them and Elisabeth. Fritzl stated that his decision to imprison Elisabeth came about after she "did not adhere to any rules any more" when she became a teenager. "That is why I had to do something; I had to create a place where I could keep Elisabeth, by force if necessary, away from the outside world." He suggested that the emphasis on discipline during the Nazi annexation of Austria , which ended when he
3344-429: The count, the greater its strength. Tarps may also be washable or non-washable and waterproof or non-waterproof, and mildewproof vs. non-mildewproof. Tarp flexibility is especially significant under cold conditions. A polyethylene tarpaulin ("polytarp") is not a traditional fabric, but rather, a laminate of woven and sheet material. The center is loosely woven from strips of polyethylene plastic, with sheets of
3420-430: The defending counsel, appealed to the jury to be objective and not be swayed by emotions. He insisted Fritzl was "not a monster," stating that he had brought a Christmas tree down to his captives in the cellar during the holiday season. Christiane Burkheiser, prosecuting her first case since being appointed Chief Prosecutor, pressed for life imprisonment in an institution for the criminally insane. She demonstrated for jurors
3496-445: The events. In July 2008, it emerged that Elisabeth ordered her mother Rosemarie out of the villa they had been sharing, in a secret location set up for them by a psychiatric clinic . Elisabeth was upset about Rosemarie's passiveness during her upbringing. Lawyer Christoph Herbst, who represents Elisabeth and her family, said, "Fortunately, everything is going very well"; they spend their time answering hundreds of letters from all over
3572-408: The existence of the group Fritzl described. He noted that Elisabeth's letters seemed dictated and oddly written. Elisabeth pleaded with Fritzl to be taken to the hospital where Kerstin was being treated. On 26 April he released her from the cellar along with her sons Stefan and Felix, bringing them upstairs, at which time he and Elisabeth went to the hospital. Following a tip-off from Dr. Reiter that
3648-484: The extra space that they now had in which to move about. In May 2008, a handmade poster created by Elisabeth, her children and her mother at the therapy facility was displayed in the Amstetten Town Centre. The message thanked local people for their support. "We, the whole family, would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you for sympathy at our fate," they wrote in their message. "Your compassion
3724-425: The family by shutting off their lights or refusing to deliver food for days at a time. He told Elisabeth and the three children who remained, Kerstin, Stefan and Felix, that they would be gassed if they tried to escape. Investigators concluded that this was an empty threat to frighten the victims; there was no gas supply to the basement. Fritzl also told them that they would be electrocuted if they tried to meddle with
3800-556: The family home. The incestuous rapes resulted in the birth of seven children. Three remained in captivity with their mother; one died shortly after birth and was cremated by Fritzl; and the other three were brought up in the family home upstairs by Fritzl and his wife Rosemarie, after Fritzl convinced her and the authorities that they were foundlings . Fritzl was arrested on suspicion of rape, false imprisonment , manslaughter by negligence and incest by Austrian police one week after Elisabeth's eldest daughter, Kerstin, fell ill in
3876-480: The family when Fritzl was four years old and never again came into contact with him. The elder Fritzl later fought as a soldier in the Wehrmacht during World War II and was killed in action in 1944. His name appears on a memorial plaque in Amstetten. In 1956, aged 21, the younger Fritzl married 17-year-old Rosemarie (born 23 September 1939), with whom he had three sons and four daughters, including Elisabeth, who
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#17327932838303952-478: The family's hide-away home, and returned to the psychiatric clinic where medical staff had started trying to heal the family and unite the "upstairs" and "downstairs" siblings during the previous year. Elisabeth was reported to be distraught and close to a breakdown after a British paparazzo burst into her kitchen and started taking photographs. After the trial, Elisabeth and her six children were moved to an unnamed village in northern Austria, where they were living in
4028-468: The first day, Fritzl entered the courtroom attempting to hide his face from cameras behind a blue folder, which he was entitled to do under Austrian law. After opening statements, all journalists and spectators were asked to leave the courtroom, whereupon Fritzl lowered his folder. Fritzl pleaded guilty to all charges with the exception of murder and grievous assault by threatening to gas his captives if they disobeyed him. In his opening remarks, Rudolf Mayer,
4104-479: The first of several that he had forced Elisabeth to write while she was in captivity. The letter, postmarked in Braunau , stated that she was tired of living with her family and was staying with a friend. She warned her parents not to look for her or she would leave the country. Fritzl told police that she had most likely joined a cult . Over the next 24 years, Fritzl entered the hidden chamber almost every day, or
4180-449: The fourth child's birth in 1994, Fritzl allowed the enlargement of the chamber, from 35 to 55 m (380 to 590 sq ft), putting Elisabeth and her children to work digging out soil with their bare hands for years. The captives had a television, a radio and a videocassette player. Food could be stored in a refrigerator and cooked or heated on hot plates . Elisabeth taught the children to read and write. At times, Fritzl would punish
4256-412: The lack of fresh air and sunshine while held captive, and the abuse that they and their mother had received from Fritzl when he came to the basement. All of the children might have genetic problems common to children born of an incestuous relationship. In March 2009, Elisabeth was said to be estranged from her mother, Rosemarie, who accepted Fritzl's story about Elisabeth joining a cult, and did not pursue
4332-450: The loads of open trucks and wagons, to keep wood piles dry, and for shelters such as tents or other temporary structures. Tarpaulins are also used for advertisement printing, most notably for billboards. Perforated tarpaulins are typically used for medium to large advertising , or for protection on scaffoldings; the aim of the perforations (from 20% to 70%) is to reduce wind vulnerability. Polyethylene tarpaulins have also proven to be
4408-711: The local area. There is also a vocational boarding school for technical professions and craftsman education. Amstetten provides good shopping opportunities for its residents. There is a shopping centre with clothes shops, shoe shops, a supermarket, technology shops and other amenities. The shopping centre also has free WiFi. Amstetten’s high street has some clothes shops and several restaurants. There are two second hand shops in Amstetten where good quality clothes can be purchased cheaply. There are several large supermarkets including an Interspar, Merkur and Hofer. Unfortunately, details of Amstetten’s culture scene are not easily found online. For detailed information of events in Amstetten,
4484-496: The low height of the ceiling in the cellar dungeon, by making a mark on the door to the courtroom at 174 cm (5 ft 8.5 in) and described the cellar as "damp and mouldy," passing around a box of musty objects taken from the cellar, the odour of which made jurors flinch. On the first day of testimony, jurors watched eleven hours of testimony recorded by Elisabeth in sessions with police and psychologists in July 2008. The tape
4560-642: The matter further. Elisabeth allows her three children who grew up in the Fritzl household to visit their grandmother regularly. Rosemarie lives alone in a small apartment. A March 2010 article in The Independent stated that Elisabeth and her children recovered remarkably well, given the difficult lives they endured for so long. According to Fritzl's sister-in-law, Christine, Elisabeth enjoys spending her time shopping, taking frequent showers and driving. She passed her driving test without difficulty. Her relationship with Thomas Wagner, one of her bodyguards, who
4636-444: The missing mother to come forward and provide information about Kerstin's medical history. The investigation into Elisabeth's disappearance was also reopened. Fritzl repeated his story about Elisabeth being in a cult, and presented what he claimed was the "most recent letter" from her, dated January 2008, posted from the town of Kematen . The police contacted Manfred Wohlfahrt, a church officer and expert on cults, who raised doubts about
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#17327932838304712-492: The murder of the infant Michael, who died shortly after birth, and faced between ten years' and life imprisonment . Fritzl was also charged with rape, incest , kidnapping , false imprisonment and slavery , which carry a maximum twenty-year term. After completing compulsory education at the age of 17, Elisabeth started a course to become a waitress. In January 1983 she ran away from home and went into hiding in Vienna with
4788-555: The same material bonded to the surface. This creates a fabric-like material that resists stretching well in all directions and is waterproof. Sheets can be either of low density polyethylene (LDPE) or high density polyethylene (HDPE). When treated against ultraviolet light, these tarpaulins can last for years exposed to the elements, but non- UV treated material will quickly become brittle and lose strength and water resistance if exposed to sunlight. Canvas tarpaulins are not 100% waterproof, though they are water resistant. Thus, while
4864-430: The second day of the criminal trial against her father, in preparation for a book she wrote about her ordeal. She did not plan to see her father again. Fritzl's attorney confirmed that she had been in the visitors' gallery in disguise at the time her video testimony was aired. "Josef Fritzl recognised that Elisabeth was in court and, from this point on, you could see Josef Fritzl going pale and he broke down," Mayer said. "It
4940-441: The site and verified that the new extension had been built according to the dimensions specified on the permit. Fritzl had illegally enlarged the room by excavating space for a much larger basement, concealed by walls. Around 1981 or 1982, according to his statement, Fritzl started to turn this hidden cellar into a prison chamber and installed a washbasin, toilet, bed, hot plate and refrigerator. In 1983, he added more space by creating
5016-451: The southern shore of Lake Mondsee. The forensic examination revealed that Posch had been killed by strangulation two hours after leaving her parents' home. After his arrest, Fritzl was investigated for possible involvement, since at the time of the murder, he and his wife ran a campground which was located opposite where Posch was found. Posch was also very physically similar to his daughter, Elisabeth. In addition to Posch's murder, Fritzl
5092-456: The world" and "as strict as it was necessary." Later, he expressed a negative opinion of his mother and claimed that "she used to beat me, hit me until I was lying in a pool of blood on the floor. It left me feeling totally humiliated and weak. My mother was a servant and she used to work hard all her life, I never had a kiss from her, I was never cuddled although I wanted it – I wanted her to be good to me." He claimed that she called him "a Satan ,
5168-491: The world. Felix, Kerstin and Stefan, brought up underground with their mother, have learned to swim. In August 2008, all of Elisabeth's children attended a four-day summer camp organised by firefighters, with 4,000 other young campers. The children, along with their mother, have made day trips, including swimming outings, where care was taken to keep them out of reach of the paparazzi and to protect their privacy. In March 2009, Elisabeth and her children were forced to move out of
5244-464: Was a meeting of eyes that changed his mind." The next day, Fritzl began the proceedings by approaching the judge and changing his pleas to guilty on all charges. On 19 March 2009, Fritzl was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for fifteen years. He said that he accepted the sentence and would not appeal. Fritzl is currently serving out his sentence in Garsten Abbey ,
5320-707: Was born on 6 April 1966. Fritzl reportedly began sexually abusing Elisabeth in 1977, when she was aged 11. After completing his education at an HTL Technical College with a qualification in electrical engineering, Fritzl obtained a job at Voestalpine in Linz . From 1969 until 1971, he held a job in a construction-material firm in Amstetten. Later, he became a technical equipment salesman, travelling throughout Austria. Fritzl retired from active employment when he turned 60 in 1995, but continued some commercial activities. In addition to his apartment building in Amstetten, he rented out several other properties. In 1972, Fritzl purchased
5396-609: Was looked into as a suspect in the death of Anna Neumayer, aged 17, who was killed with a captive bolt pistol in a field in Linz on 17 August 1966. She had disappeared on her way to Wels , 35 kilometres from where Fritzl worked at the time. Another potential victim was Gabriela Supeková, aged 42, a prostitute who was murdered in August 2007. Her body was found at the Lipno Reservoir near the Austrian-Czech border, at
5472-457: Was planning to pretend to have rescued his daughter from her fictitious cult. Police spokesman Franz Polzer said police planned to interview at least 100 people who had lived as tenants in the Fritzl home in the previous 24 years. The Fritzl property in Amstetten is a building dating from around 1890. A newer building was added after 1978, when Fritzl applied for a building permit for an "extension with basement." In 1983, building inspectors visited
5548-439: Was quickly arrested on suspicion of serious crimes against family members. During the night of 27 April, Elisabeth, her children and her mother Rosemarie were taken into care. Fritzl told investigators how to enter the chamber through a small hidden door, opened by a secret keyless entry code . Rosemarie had been unaware of what had been happening to Elisabeth. On 29 April, it was announced that DNA evidence confirmed Fritzl as
5624-548: Was reported to have shredded her dresses before stuffing them in the toilet. Stefan could not walk properly, because of his height of 173 cm (5 ft 8 in), which had forced him to stoop in the 168 cm-high (5 ft 6 in) cellar. It has also been revealed that normal everyday occurrences, such as the dimming of lights or the closing of doors, plunged Kerstin and Stefan into anxiety and panic attacks . The other three of Elisabeth's children who were raised by their father were being treated for anger and resentment at
5700-598: Was sold for €160,000 in December 2016, with the buyers voicing their intention to convert the building into apartments. Amstetten, Lower Austria Amstetten ( German pronunciation: [amˈʃtɛtn̩] ) is a city in Lower Austria . It is the capital of the Amstetten District and the centre of the historical region Mostviertel (“Most” – lightly fermented apple juice, “viertel” –
5776-408: Was ten years old, might have influenced his views about decency and good behaviour. The chief editors of News magazine noted in an editorial that they expected Fritzl's statement to form the basis of his lawyer's defence strategy . Critics said his statement may have been a ploy to prepare an insanity defence . Reflecting on his childhood, Fritzl initially described his mother as "the best woman in
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