The disturbing true story of the kidnap survivor Elisabeth Fritzl once shocked the whole nation of Austria. Even today, it does not fail to send shivers down the spine to know such horrible, disturbing details of the story.
Elisabeth Fritzl is a kidnap survivor. She was held captive in a cellar by her own father for a long 24 years. The alarming incident came out in 2008 when she escaped the prison.
However, today Elisabeth Fritzl is 57 years old, safely rebuilding her life in a small village. The horrible incident didn’t end with her only being captive; there are more disturbing details to the story.
Look forward to this article to learn more about the intriguing story of Elisabeth Fritzl and get the answer to the question: how old is Elizabeth Fritzl now?
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Table of Contents
Who is Elisabeth Fritzl?
Elizabeth Fritzl is a survivor of kidnapping and a rape victim from Amstetten, Austria. She was kidnapped by her own father in a room in their family basement and held captive for almost 24 years. Her father, Josef Fritzl had tricked her 18-year-old daughter, Elisabeth, to help him carry something.
Josef hit her unconscious and threw her into the basement cell. While he forced her family to believe Elisabeth was a runaway, he held captive her own daughter and r*ped her.
The 2021 film Girl in the Basement reflected her true story, the horrendous crime of her father. The movie depicts the horrific story while raising the disturbing details about the horrid crime.
What happened to Elisabeth Fritzl?
Elisabeth Fritzl was only 18 when her father held her captive. Josef lured her to the basement by asking for help in carrying a door to fit in the basement.
He was actually making a prison chamber in the basement. The door was the last thing to fit in. While doing so, he pushed forth an ether-soaked towel to Elisabeth’s face and held her unconscious. He threw her into the prison chamber.
Her mother complained about a missing case on her daughter after a month nearly. He made her write a letter emphasising that she got tired of living with her family and had left the town with her friend. He told the police that Elisabeth had left them to join a cult.
Josef used to go to the cell every day, providing her food and other supplies three times and repeatedly raped her. As a result, she bore children. Horrendously, not only one but seven. One child died shortly after birth. He got rid of it by throwing it in the furnace.
Josef brought three children with him to his wife, saying Elisabeth left them on the door. Surprisingly, social service authorities could not suspect anything and approved them as their foster parents. The remaining three children stayed with Elisabeth in the cell.
Josef even enlarged the cell area after the birth of his fourth child. The cell had a television, videocassette and fridge as well. Josef would threaten to electrocute them and gas the cell if they tried to escape. He never allowed his wife near the cell.
A tenant who lived on the ground floor complained about noises coming from the basement. He busted it by saying it was a faulty pipe. Elisabeth was held captive for 24 years.
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How was the monstrous crime on Elisabeth Fritzl discovered?
On April 9, 2008, when Elisabeth’s eldest daughter Kerstin was sick and fell unconscious, Elisabeth begged her father to save her. She helped her come out of the chamber while he threatened to return to the chamber.
Kerstin was admitted to a hospital where the doctors diagnosed her with an unnatural life-threatening kidney failure. Josef arrived at the hospital to claim that her daughter had left Kerstin with a note.
The doctors and the hospital staff suspected something unnatural and notified the police. The police shared a public appeal to bring the missing mother to provide health information about her daughter. Josef again claimed that her daughter is still connected with the cult and showed a letter dated January 2008.
The police contacted a church officer, a cult expert, to get information about the cult. However, it all leads to something suspicious. They felt the letter was dictated and oddly written. Police opened the case on Elisabeth once again.
On the other hand, Elisabeth requested to see her daughter. Josef let her and the children come out of the cell for the first time in two decades. On April 26, 2008, Josef and Elisabeth went to the hospital to see Kerstin. Luckily, on the doctor’s alert, police arrived at the hospital to detain them. They took them to the police station for enquiry.
Naturally, Elisabeth was traumatised and didn’t provide any information to the police. The police promised her that she would not have to face her father once again. Later, Elisabeth revealed all the stories of her torture and sexual assault on her by her father.
Within the day, police completed the investigation and arrested Josef. The police got the information from him on how to enter the chamber with the small door. The DNA reports from the chamber sample proved that the children were Josef and Elisabeth’s biological children.
A few months later, Austrian police claimed that Josef was considering freeing them a year later and forced Elisabeth to write a letter. In the letter, she noted she was willing to return, but it was not possible at that moment. Josef was planning to pretend to save Elisabeth from the cult.
Police questioned around 100 tenants who lived in the house. On March 19, 2009, in a 4-day trial, Josef pleaded guilty to multiple charges– false imprisonment of his daughter Elisabeth, enslavement, in*est, rape, coercion, and murder by the negligence of his infant son. Josef was sentenced to life imprisonment.
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How Old Is Elisabeth Fritzl Now?
Elisabeth Fritzl was 18 years old when she was held captive. In 2008, she was freed from her cell when she was 42 years old.
Now, in 2024, Elisabeth is 57 years old. Elisabeth and her children are given new identities to protect them.
Where is Elisabeth Fritzl now?
Elisabeth and her children moved to a new house in the countryside with complete protection by guards and under constant CCTV surveillance.
Medical reports claimed that Elisabeth and all her six children are physically in good health. First, they boarded a local clinic where they were given medical and psychological treatment.
The doctor said that Elisabeth and her three children need further therapy. They need to adjust to the light as they are held captive in darkness. It was also revealed that common occurrences like dimming the light and opening the door would scare and traumatise the children.
After a paparazzo incident, where a photographer broke into their house and took photos, they were shifted to an unnamed village with full guards. Reports claim that Elisabeth is in a relationship with one of the guards, Thomas Wagner.
He is 23 years younger than her and maintains a big brother image to the children. Elisabeth and her children are now involved in everyday activities and participate in local events, making the most fun out of it.
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The Aftermath of the monstrous Fritzl incident
On January 25, 2024, the Higher Regional Court approved Josef Fritzl’s move to a regular prison from a psychiatric detention facility. A move to a regular prison means being eligible for parole.
Reports claim that he has dementia. His psychiatric reports claim that he no longer possesses danger. His lawyer declared that Josef Fritzl regrets what he did. The Court at last declared he was no longer a threat.
However, the move was delayed as the prosecutors filed complaints to overturn the decision in a higher court. If the move is confirmed he will get parole in 2025.
Elisabeth Fritzl Family Background
Elisabeth’s mother is Rosemarie Fritzl. Elisabeth has seven children. Lisa, Monica and Alexander were raised by Rosemarie and Josef. Kerstin, Stefan and Felix were with Elisabeth in the cell. Michael was the infant who died in the cell.
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Elisabeth Fritzl Net Worth
Elisabeth Fritzl was a victim of a disturbing incident, held captive for 24 years by his father. Before that, she was trained to be a waitress. However, we don’t know what work she did after being free. According to some sources, Elisabeth Fritzl has an estimated net worth of $897 thousand.
FAQS about Elisabeth Fritzl
Who is Elisabeth Fritzl?
Elizabeth Fritzl is the survivor of kidnapping and a rape victim from Amstetten, Austria. She was kidnapped by her own father in a room in their family basement and held captive for almost 24 years.
How Old Is Elisabeth Fritzl Now?
Elisabeth Fritzl was 18 years old when she was held captive. Now, in 2024, Elisabeth is 57 years old.
Where is Elisabeth Fritzl now?
Elisabeth and her children moved to a new house in the countryside with complete protection by guards and under constant CCTV surveillance.
What is the net worth of Elisabeth Fritzl?
According to some sources, Elisabeth Fritzl has an estimated net worth of $897 thousand.
How is Elisabeth Fritzl now?
Elisabeth was given a new name following Josef’s trial, to prevent her identity from being revealed. She now lives with her six surviving children in a tiny hamlet in the Austria countryside.