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Imprisonment Began as Detox for Daughter: Fritzl

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 2, 2009 12:03 PM CST
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(Newser) – Austrian incest dad Josef Fritzl defended his imprisonment of daughter Elisabeth as necessary to stop her abuse of household chemicals, the Daily Mail reports. “She had been sniffing cleaning fluids and I decided I should talk with her in my cellar,” Fritzl said of the day in 1984 that marked the beginning of her captivity. “She reacted to my accusations with a couldn’t-care-less attitude.”

“And because … she showed no improvement in her attitude,” Fritzl continued, “I decided to keep her locked up.” The statement comes from a psychological evaluation completed ahead of Fritzl’s trial, to begin in two weeks. The accused rapist’s benevolent streak carried over to his secret family, he said: “They didn’t miss anything as I really tried to make their life in captivity as pleasant as possible.”

Josef Fritzl.
Josef Fritzl.   (AP Photo)
Fritzl's house in Amstetten, Austria.
Fritzl's house in Amstetten, Austria.   (AP Photo)
A picture of Josef Fritzl's cellar apartment.
A picture of Josef Fritzl's cellar apartment.   (Getty Images)
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They didn’t miss anything as I really tried to make their life in captivity as pleasant as possible. We played, we chatted, we laughed in the cellar, we actually led a completely normal family life. - Josef Fritzl

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
cornelison
Mar 17, 2009 9:37 PM CDT
He knows he's lying. Everyone he talks to knows he's lying. The whole truth will come from Elisabeth. Elizabeth, your courage is amazing.
Guest
Mar 3, 2009 5:03 AM CST
ROFL! I had to lock her up because I love her. I had to cure her, but stripping her naked. And then I lost my will! ROFL! At lease these people are amusing, though I'm sure their victims aren't laughing. Just remember it's wrong to hurt another human being.
Doctor-Zaius
Mar 3, 2009 4:27 AM CST
If only someone would lock him up in a cement room and then he was repeatedly rapedover the course of years. Oh wait, that IS what's going to happen.

Controversial Fritzl play is open; should it be closed?
Guardian (UK)

Fritzl says neighbors turned a blind eye
Telegraph (UK)

 
rape • drug abuse • murder trial • incest • Josef Fritzl • Elisabeth Fritzl • Amstetten, Austria • imprisonment

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