Rapist grandfather of own children pleads guilty
I previously wrote on this horrific April 2008 AFP story:
An elderly Austrian… confessed… to imprisoning his daughter in a cellar for 24 years and fathering her 7 children, prosecutors said.
Josef Fritzl, 73, “has admitted building the dungeon and to holding his daughter and three children there,” prosecution spokesman Gerhard Sedlacek [said].
Fritzl also admitted incest “but insisted there was no force involved,” said Sedlacek. One of the children died at an early age….
The case just went to trial, and finally after 3 days Fritzl pled guilty, after viewing videotape testimony from his daughter. Reported the Associated Press today…
The negligent homicide charge came for the death of an infant twin boy born to Elisabeth in April 1996 who prosecutors say might have survived with proper medical care had he and his mother not been locked in the basement.
Fritzl expressed regret that he didn’t bring the ailing infant out of the dungeon and get medical help.
“I don’t know why I didn’t help,” Fritzl said. “I just overlooked it. I thought the little one would survive.”
“I should have recognized that the baby was doing poorly,” he added….
Prosecutors have alleged that Fritzl refused to speak to his daughter during the first few years of her ordeal, coming downstairs only to rape her. They said the rapes sometimes occurred in front of the children, and described Elisabeth as a “broken” woman.
Just goes to show how depraved people can get.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
I read about this earlier but I still have so many questions: Where was the woman’s mother, had she died previously? Could she never escape the cellar (ie was there a lock or was she simply terrified?)? Did all her children live with her in that hellhole? Did he act like a father to them or just ignore them? It’s such a horrifying story. This guy should get the worst he possibly can in his country.
Oh this makes my stomach turn. . . .
The woman’s mother was raising 3 of the children right upstairs with Fritzl claiming they had been abandoned.
She was locked in. There was no way to open the door from the inside. 3 of her children lived with her in the dungeon. One died in infancy(a twin)for lack of medical attention.
Hardly a “father” to his daughter or his grandchildren judging by his actions.
I pray they are getting wonderful counseling and enjoying being outdoors!
Yes that daughter and her children just need to enjoy the fresh air, the grass, the sun, the rain and their mother who is finally FREE.
Could you imagine giving birth and having an infant need medical attention and then to have to watch it die. I mean how sad. . .
I’m sorry, but I really don’t believe that the man’s wife didn’t know what was going on. I mean, seriously, how could she not?
She was raising 3 of her grandkids, how could she not know that SOMETHING strange was happening and try to investigate?
Thats what i was thinking too Lauren! Wow strange. . .
What did she think ever happened to her 18 year old daughter??
I agree Lauren. How could she not know? How could she not be suspicious?
Krystak, I read an article this past year in Outsider about another sick man, I think he called himself “Papa Pilgrim” and lived with his large family in AK. Not as horrific as this case, but terrible nonetheless. I know it’s a big state but did you hear of him? I believe he is in jail now.
asitis, nope never heard of him. Do you have a link?
Oh I found some articles on this man. Robert Hale, I guess I did hear of him but not by that nick name. Here is the stories about him from adn.com (Anchorage Daily News)
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/pilgrims/
FYI, he died in Jail!
I’ve heard stories of women like this (the man’s wife), who must be so in denial of what’s going on. Unless, of course, she was fine with it…either way I’d assume she’ll be tried as an accomplice or something. I hope.
Yes, that’s him Krystal. I found the Outside mag article for you http://outside.away.com/outside/culture/200812/robert-allen-hale-papa-pilgrim-1.html
That article was lllooonnnggg. But nice to read. I’m glad those kids did turn out so good.
Outside Magazine has great articles, though this was an unusual topic for them, and not pleasant to read. I like their sporting and adventure stories better!
It is amazing that those poor kids seem to have survived relatively well. I hope they go on to have great lives and be great parents.
This man is creepy looking *shudders*
What did she think ever happened to her 18 year old daughter??
Posted by: Carla at March 18, 2009 6:17 PM
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I believe I read in a UK publication that Mr. Fritzl told his wife that the daughter had run away, and the children/grandchildren that they raised were periodically “dumped” there by this “irresponsible runaway” daughter. Who was actually his prisoner in the dungeon…er, basement.
This man should rot forever. I feel so awful for Elizabeth and her children.
Do any believers here think this guy is beyond redemption?
Would you compare what this guy did to his children, because of psychopathy, any different than what abortionist do and the parents that kill their offspring?
They are all coming along well now, right? I mean, does anyone know how the family is doing? God bless them.
No, Fritzl is not beyond redemption. He is not beyond the reach of God who would forgive him if he repented.
That didn’t take long. Fritzl was found guilty and will spend the rest of his days in a psychiatric hospital.
Would you compare what this guy did to his children, because of psychopathy, any different than what abortionist do and the parents that kill their offspring?
Posted by: HisMan at March 18, 2009 10:53 PM
Well, that didn’t take long.
Absolutely repulsive.
My theory is that his wife knew but was scared. Maybe she exhibited some form of Stockholm syndrome.
They found a boy like that recently in one of the suburbs in st. louis. This boy got kidnapped, was missing for something like 3 years. They found him; his kidnapper even let him ride his bike around his neighborhood, but the kid never ran away.
“Would you compare what this guy did to his children, because of psychopathy, any different than what abortionist do and the parents that kill their offspring?
Posted by: HisMan at March 18, 2009 10:53 PM
Well, that didn’t take long.
Posted by: Hal at March 19, 2009 9:12 AM”
Neither did aborting your two daughters. Tell me Hal, where are they now or don’t you understand that your decision turned then into dust?
HisMan, my two daughters are alive and well and continue to be the greatest joy of my life.
You’re probably referring to the two terminated pregnancies. If you’re right they’re in heaven. If I’m right, no harm done.