Fritzl Blames Nazis, Says He Was Trying to Save Daughter

Incest daughter Kerstin, 19, still in coma, but likely to live

(NEWSER) - Josef Fritzl might not have stopped at raping his daughter, Austrian police now say, fearing now that Fritzl raped granddaughter Kerstin, the oldest incest child born in his cellar dungeon, the Daily Mail reports. But police aren't able to question the 19-year-old because she is still in an induced coma, though she is now stable and expected to live. More»

Lawyer says man who raped daughter for 24 years' is mentally ill, not responsible for actions

(NEWSER) - The man charged with imprisoning his daughter for 24 years and repeatedly raping her may not spend long behind bars, reports the Times of London, as Josef Fritzel's lawyer plans to plead insanity to avoid a prison term. “Josef Fritzl is mentally ill and therefore not responsible for his actions," and belongs "in a closed psychiatry ward," Rudolf Mayer said. More»

Ex-tenant, others didn't report abuse before she was imprisoned

(NEWSER) - A tenant who lived in Josef Fritzl's house for 4 years in the early '80s knew the Austrian father was abusing his daughter Elisabeth, the Times of London reports. The lodger said he was told of the abuse by a neighbor, who had helped the teenage Elisabeth escape to Vienna—only for police to track her down and return her to her father, who later imprisoned her in a cellar for 24 years. More»

Fritzl children finding fresh air, cows, cell phones fascinating

(NEWSER) - Stefan and Felix Fritzl were awestruck by the moon, nudging each other, pointing, giggling with joy, the Guardian reports of the boys' first days outside the windowless Austrian cellar they grew up in. The pair, aged 18 and 5, had only seen the sky on television. Now, they’re adjusting to the “real world,” marveling at everyday objects and developing a tolerance for sunlight. More»

(NEWSER) - Elisabeth Fritzl has “renewed strength” after beginning a relationship with her bodyguard, the Telegraph reports. Fritzl, 42, was held captive in an Austrian cellar and raped by her father, Josef, for 24 years; she and her six children by her father are now under police protection. “They are a couple,” a source said. “Everyone saw from the beginning how secure she felt with him.” More»