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- Josef started abusing Elisabeth when she was 11 years oldCNN: Fritzl daughter testifies in incest case (March 17, 2009)
- Josef drugged her, handcuffed her and dragged her into the cellar seven years laterCNN: Fritzl daughter testifies in incest case (March 17, 2009)
- Josef reportedly told his wife and others that Elisabeth had run awayCNN: Fritzl daughter testifies in incest case (March 17, 2009)
- Imprisoned for 24 yearsBBC: Cellar father faces murder charge (November 13, 2008)
- Conceived seven children by her father TimesOnline: Elisabeth, Gives Evidence Against Him for First Time (July 11, 2008)
- Children's age at the time of the first questioning of Elisabeth: Kerstin (19), Stefan (18), Lisa (15), Monika (14), Alexander (12), and Felix (5) TimesOnline: Elisabeth, Gives Evidence Against Him for First Time (July 11, 2008)
- Josef brought three children upstairs; told his wife that Elisabeth had dropped them off at the houseCNN: Fritzl daughter testifies in incest case (March 17, 2009)
- One of her children died shortly after birth and her father reportedly burned its body in an incinerator TimesOnline: Elisabeth, Gives Evidence Against Him for First Time (July 11, 2008)
- Elisabeth, her children and her mother received several months of psychiatric care in an undisclosed clinic TimesOnline: Elisabeth, Gives Evidence Against Him for First Time (July 11, 2008)
- The testimonies of Elisabeth and her children were recorded and presented to the court during the trialCNN: Fritzl daughter testifies in incest case (March 17, 2009)
- Elisabeth has demanded that neither she, nor her children ever see their father again TimesOnline: Elisabeth, Gives Evidence Against Him for First Time (July 11, 2008)
- Josef's trial began on March 16, 2009
- He pleaded guilty to incest, but not guilty to murder and enslavementGuardian Unlimited: Josef Fritzl pleads guilty to rape of daughter (March 16, 2009)
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Elisabeth Fritzl is an Austrian woman who was held captive, abused and raped in a windowless cellar for 24 years by her father, Josef Fritzl. Austrian police proved through DNA tests that Josef Fritzl fathered Elisabeth Fritzl's children. FOXNews.com Prosecutors Question Austrian Incest-Dungeon Daughter for First Time (July 11, 2008)
Fritzl's trial began on March 16, 2009, and lasted four days, with the jury returning a guilty verdict on March 19. He was then sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his son, and is being given the option of choosing between one of three prisons that has a separate section for "psychologically abnormal" convicts.Telegraph: Josef Fritzl sentenced to life in mental hospital for murder of baby son (March 19, 2009) Times Online: Fritzl prison has gym, choir and tennis classes (March 22, 2009)
Aftermath
Elisabeth's two oldest children, Kerstin and Stefan, spent their entire lives in the cellar. TimesOnline: Elisabeth, Gives Evidence Against Him for First Time (July 11, 2008) Claiming she had run away to join a cult, Josef Fritzl openly raised three of Elisabeth's children with his wife, Rosemarie. FOXNews.com Prosecutors Question Austrian Incest-Dungeon Daughter for First Time (July 11, 2008)Elisabeth and all of her children received several months of care at an undisclosed psychiatric facility. TimesOnline: Elisabeth, Gives Evidence Against Him for First Time (July 11, 2008)
In July 2008, after receiving several months of psychiatric care, Elisabeth was questioned for the first time. Prosecutors and Josef Fritzl's legal representative asked questions via video-link while Elisabeth remained in the presence of her lawyer and Judge Andrea Hummer. TimesOnline: Elisabeth, Gives Evidence Against Him for First Time (July 11, 2008)
Elisabeth and her children are now in protective custody. They have been given new identities.CNN: Fritzl daughter testifies in incest case (March 17, 2009)
Background
Shortly after her disappearance, her father forced her to author a letter stating she had joined a fundamentalist religious sect. Josef Fritzl's wife, Rosemarie, apparently never realized that her daughter and children were locked in the basement of her home.On April 26, 2008. Elisabeth's 19-year-old daughter, Kerstin, was left at a hospital with a life-threatening illness. After reading a note Elisabeth had secretly stowed in Kerstin's pocket, doctors made a televised plea for her to come to the hospital. Upon hearing this on the television in her basement cell, Elisabeth managed to convince her father to take her to the hospital. On the evening of April 26, Elisabeth and her father appeared at the the hospital together. They were questioned and Josef was arrested and charged.The Guardian: Austrian Officials 'Were Gullible' (May 7, 2008)
On December 30, 2008, Elisabeth Fritzl left the clinic where she had been recovering since her release in April.BBC News: Fritzl's daughter leaves clinic (December 30, 2008) It also was revealed that Elisabeth kept a diary while she was imprisoned; a diary that prosecutors intend to use against Josef Fritzl.Guardian: Elisabeth Fritzl released from psychiatric hospital (December 29, 2008)
The Trial
Josef Fritzl was charged with incest, rape, coercion, false imprisonment, murder, enslavement and murder for refusing medical attention to one of the children, who died as a baby as a result.BBC: Cellar father faces murder charge (November 13, 2008) TimesOnline: Elisabeth, Gives Evidence Against Him for First Time (July 11, 2008) BBC: Cellar father faces murder charge (November 13, 2008) His trial began on March 16, 2009, with him initially only pleading guilty to four of the charges. He had entered a not guilty plea for murder and enslavement.Guardian Unlimited: Josef Fritzl pleads guilty to rape of daughter (March 16, 2009)Elisabeth did not appear at the trial, but rather had her testimony pre-recorded and shown in court during the first two days of trial.CNN: Fritzl daughter testifies in incest case (March 17, 2009) On March 18, 2009, after his daughter's video testimony was played in court, Fritzl changed his plea and admitted guilt on all charges.BBC News: Josef Fritzl Admits All Charges (March 18, 2009)
On March 19, 2009, Fritzl was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his son, and is being given the option of choosing between one of three prisons that has a separate section for "psychologically abnormal" convicts.Telegraph: Josef Fritzl sentenced to life in mental hospital for murder of baby son (March 19, 2009) Times Online: Fritzl prison has gym, choir and tennis classes (March 22, 2009)
The Future
Although Elisabeth and her children were in protective custody and given new identities, tabloid reporters found their location and broke in to take photographs. Now they have been transferred back to the psychiatric facility where they were initially treated, and the state is funding both their living costs and therapy.Times Online: Fritzl prison has gym, choir and tennis classes (March 22, 2009)Play
A theater in Vienna produced a "satiric soap opera" based on Josef Fritzl and the story of the Fritzl family. The play starred an Austrian stand-up comedian, Hubsi Kramar, and debuted on February 23, 2009.Breitbart: Austrian Theater to Stage Fritzl Show (January 13, 2009)TV Interview
In March 2009, it was reported that Josef has agreed to do a TV interview and donate the money to Elisabeth. Josef has declared bankruptcy, but his creditors have agreed not to request any money from the interview, if the profits goes to Elisabeth and her children. The interview will take place after the trial.Austrian Times: Creditors agree to let interview cash go to Elisabeth Fritzl (March 6, 2009)-
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Elisabeth Fritzl Questions
Can Josef Fritzl be morally censored? 1 AnswerI'm interested to understand more about what "morally" censored means. Morality is in the eyes of the beholder... And... censoring goes against my First Amendm... read more
Do you think Elisabeth Moss and Fred Armisen make a good couple? 3 AnswersSure, they are both very talented, successful and have that geeky-yet-oddly attractive thing going on. I think they look good together and it is nice to hear th... read more
How was Elizabeth Fritzl and her children fed in the windowless celler without the knowledge of Josefs wife, Rosemarie? 3 AnswersI think the wife had to know. How is it possible for her to have her daughter in the basement for 24 years and not know it, did she never go to the basement for... read more -
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