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Josef Fritzl

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Josef Fritzl
Born
Josef Fritzl

(1935-04-09) 9 April 1935 (age 90)
NationalityAustrian
Known forImprisoning and raping his daughter Elisabeth
Criminal statusIncarcerated at Garsten Abbey
SpouseRosemarie Fritzl (m. 1956; div. 2012)
Conviction(s)Murder by negligence, rape, and other charges
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment

Josef Fritzl (born 9 April 1935) is an Austrian criminal who has been convicted in the Fritzl case. He held his daughter Elisabeth captive in a basement dungeon under his house for 24 years without sunlight. Fritzl made his daughter write letters to him and her mother, saying she had joined a cult.[source?]

During the 24 years of confining his own daughter in the sunlight-less small basement space, Fritzl visited her only to commit rape. As a result of incest, seven children were born underground. One of the baby boys died and Fritzl burned his body. Three, of six remaining children, were brought upstairs to be raised above the ground with his wife. Other three remained underground with their mother and never saw the sunlight until they were well into their teenage years. One daughter saw the sunlight and other people only after she was already 19 years old. The police eventually found out about his crimes when one of the children became very sick and he took her to the hospital.[source?]

Fritzl was tried and convicted on several charges, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment in a facility for the mentally ill in March 2009. Fritzl could become eligible for release after fifteen years, but he is expected to be in prison until he dies.[1]

A forensic psychiatrist diagnosed him with a personality disorder and a sexual disorder.[2]

References

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  1. "Profile: Josef Fritzl". BBC News. 19 March 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  2. Fritzl could be sent to mental institution