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Josef Fritzl: Monster dad who raped daughter Elisabeth for 24 years could be FREED

A psychiatric expert is set to decide if monster Josef Fritzl, who fathered seven children with his captive daughter for 24 years, will walk free
UPDATED DEC 30, 2021
Josef Fritzl jailed for life in 2008 for murder, rape and incest after allegedly imprisoning his daughter in a cellar (Photo Handout by APA via Getty Images)
Josef Fritzl jailed for life in 2008 for murder, rape and incest after allegedly imprisoning his daughter in a cellar (Photo Handout by APA via Getty Images)

Josef Fritzl, 86, was jailed for life in Austria in 2008 for imprisoning his daughter in a basement for 24 years. He raped his daughter multiple times during her captivity and ultimately, she gave birth to seven of his children.

Fritzl kept his daughter Elisabeth locked in a soundproof basement beneath the family home in Amstetten, Austria for 24 years. He raped her and fathered seven children with her between 1984-2008. This incident came to light in April 2008, when their sick teenage daughter Kerstin had to be taken to a hospital. Fritzl was jailed on March 19, 2009. Now, a psychiatric expert will decide if Josef could be freed from prison if he passes psychological tests, the UK Telegraph has reported.

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According to police, Josef Fritzl kept his daughter Elizabeth, now 42, imprisoned in his basement and sexually abused her. Three of the children, now aged 5, 18 and 19, had never seen the light of day until the eldest was recently taken to hospital because of a severe illness. (Photo by SID Lower Austria via Getty Images)

Fritzl is currently serving a life sentence and is eligible for early release in 2024 if he is deemed no longer a danger. As of now, he has served 15 years for his crimes. If he passes the psychological tests and walks free, he will have spent less time in captivity than his daughter.

The Regional Court of Krems in Lower Austria decided to move Fritzl from a special unit for the criminally insane in Krems-Stein prison to a regular prison. This shift gives a chance to Fritzl to apply for an early release. The public prosecutor's office opposed the shift and immediately appealed the decision. So, Higher Regional Court has appointed an expert to determine Fritzl's psychiatric and neurological condition. If the experts detect any abnormalities, Fritzl will have to remain in the prison and will not be eligible to ask for early release. 

However, if the expert determines that Fritzl is of 'sound mind', then one of Europe's most notorious criminals could be released from prison as early as 2024. 



 

Ferdinand Schuster, Vice President of Krems Regional Court, said that an expert's opinion is expected by end of January. He also stated that the chances of Fritzl getting a positive certification on his mental health and judges letting him walk free are extremely slim.

In 2019, it was reported that Fritzl was exhibiting signs of dementia and that his mental health was deteriorating. He was also unpopular with other inmates at the prison and spent much of his time in solitary confinement. 

Meanwhile, Elisabeth Fritzl has not had any contact with her father since he was jailed and lives under a new alias in an unknown part of Austria with the children conceived during her 24 years of captivity.

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