Who Is Elisabeth Fritzl? Wiki, Age, Husband, Children, Parents, Siblings, and More
Elisabeth Fritzl (born 6 April 1966, Age: 57 years old) is a survivor of one of the most shocking and horrific cases of abuse, incest, and captivity in modern history. She was held prisoner by her father, Josef Fritzl, for 24 years in a secret cellar under their family home in Amstetten, Austria.
During that time, she was repeatedly raped by her father and gave birth to seven children, four of whom were also confined in the dungeon with her. The other three were raised by Josef and his wife, Rosemarie, as their grandchildren. Elisabeth and her children were finally freed in 2008 after one of them fell ill and was taken to a hospital, where the truth was revealed. Josef Fritzl was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for his crimes.
Early Life and Background
Elisabeth Fritzl was born on 6 April 1966 in Amstetten, a small town in Lower Austria. She was the fourth of seven children of Josef and Rosemarie Fritzl, who married in 1956. Elisabeth had three brothers and three sisters, who were unaware of her fate until 2008. According to Elisabeth, her father began sexually abusing her when she was 11 years old, and continued to do so until he locked her in the basement in 1984.
Elisabeth tried to escape from her father’s control by becoming a waitress and applying for a job in another town, but her plans were thwarted by Josef, who claimed that she had joined a religious cult and cut off contact with her family.
Elisabeth Fritzl Wiki/Bio
| Name | Elisabeth Fritzl |
| Birth date | 6 April 1966 |
| Birthplace | Amstetten, Austria |
| Age | 57 years (as of 2023) |
| Parents | Josef Fritzl and Rosemarie Fritzl |
| Siblings | Ulrike, Gabriele, Doris, Harald, Stefan, Alexander, Felix, Michael (half-siblings and children) |
| Children | Kerstin, Stefan, Alexander, Monika, Felix, Lisa, Michael (all fathered by Josef Fritzl) |
| Husband | Thomas Wagner (bodyguard and former policeman) |
| Occupation | Author |
| Book | Tears of Love (2018) |
| Movie | Monster: The Josef Fritzl Story (2010) |
| elisabethfritzl | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Captivity
On 28 August 1984, when Elisabeth was 18 years old, Josef lured her into the basement of their house, where he had built a secret complex of rooms, hidden behind a heavy metal door. He drugged her with ether, chained her to a bed, and told her that she would never see the light of day again. He then proceeded to rape her repeatedly, sometimes several times a day, for the next 24 years. Elisabeth was subjected to physical and psychological torture, as Josef controlled every aspect of her life, including the food, water, electricity, and ventilation in the cellar. He also threatened to kill her and her children if they ever tried to escape or make any noise.
Elisabeth Fritzl became pregnant seven times by her father and gave birth to seven children without any medical assistance or hygiene. One of them, a boy named Michael, died shortly after birth due to respiratory problems, and Josef burned his body in an incinerator. Three of the children, Lisa, Monika, and Alexander, were taken out of the cellar by Josef when they were infants, and left on the doorstep of the Fritzl house, with notes claiming that Elisabeth had abandoned them and wanted her parents to take care of them.
Josef and Rosemarie then adopted them as their grandchildren and raised them in the house’s upper floors. The other three children, Kerstin, Stefan, and Felix, remained in the cellar with Elisabeth, and never saw the outside world until their rescue. They grew up in a dark, damp, and cramped environment, with only a television, a radio, and some toys as their sources of entertainment and education.
Discovery and Rescue
The nightmare of Elisabeth Fritzl and her children came to an end in April 2008, when Kerstin, the eldest of the cellar children, fell into a coma due to a kidney infection. Elisabeth begged her father to take her to a hospital, and Josef reluctantly agreed, fearing that she would die otherwise. He carried her out of the cellar and drove her to a nearby hospital, where he left her with a note supposedly written by Elisabeth, explaining her medical history and asking for help. However, the doctors were suspicious of the note, and the lack of information about Kerstin’s condition. They contacted the police, and appealed to the public through the media, to find Elisabeth and get more details about her daughter.
Josef, unaware of the media attention, returned to the cellar and told Elisabeth and the other children that they had to leave, as the police were looking for them. He released them from the basement and took them to the upper floors of the house, where they met Rosemarie and the other siblings for the first time. He then called the police and claimed that Elisabeth had come back home with her children, after escaping from the cult. However, the police were not convinced by his story and took him and Elisabeth to the police station for questioning.
There, Elisabeth Fritzl revealed the truth about her ordeal, after being assured that she would never have to see her father again. She told the police that Josef had imprisoned her in the basement for 24 years and had fathered all of her children. She also identified her father as the rapist and gave DNA samples to prove it. Josef was arrested, and confessed to his crimes, saying that he had acted out of a “sexual obsession” and a desire to control Elisabeth.
Physical Appearance
- Height: 5 feet 8 inches
- Weight: 55 kg
- Eye color: Brown
- Hair color: Dark Brown
Aftermath and Recovery
Elisabeth and her children were taken to a psychiatric clinic, where they received medical and psychological treatment. They were also given new identities and relocated to a secret location, to protect them from the media and the public. They underwent intensive therapy and gradually adjusted to their new lives. They learned to cope with the trauma of their past and to enjoy the freedom and opportunities of their present. They also reconnected with their relatives and formed bonds with each other. Elisabeth, who was 42 years old when she was freed, reportedly found love with one of her bodyguards and married him in 2016. She also wrote a book about her experience, titled “Tears of Love”, which was published in 2018.
Josef Fritzl was tried in March 2009 and faced charges of murder, rape, incest, enslavement, coercion, and deprivation of liberty. He pleaded guilty to all counts, except murder, which he denied, saying that he did not intend to kill his son Michael. However, the court found him guilty of murder by negligence, as he had failed to provide medical care for the newborn. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after 15 years.
He was initially incarcerated at a prison in St. Pölten but was later transferred to a prison in Krems, where he is kept in a special unit for mentally ill offenders. He changed his name to Josef Mayrhoff, and reportedly expressed remorse for his actions, saying that he was “born to rape” and that he “should have been locked up”. He also attempted suicide several times and was attacked by other inmates. He is now 88 years old and is unlikely ever to be released.
Net Worth
Elisabeth Fritzl’s net worth is not publicly known, as she lives under a new identity and avoids the spotlight. However, according to one source, her net worth is estimated to be $897,000 as of 2024 This may include the income from her book sales, as well as the compensation that she received from the Austrian government for her suffering.
Husband and Kids
Elisabeth Fritzl is married to Thomas Wagner, who is 23 years younger than her. He is a former policeman and a bodyguard, who was assigned to protect her after her escape. The couple fell in love and tied the knot in 2016. They live together with Elisabeth’s six children, who are also Wagner’s stepchildren.
Elisabeth’s six children are Kerstin, Stefan, Alexander, Monika, Felix, and Lisa. They are all the biological offspring of Josef Fritzl, who raped Elisabeth repeatedly during her captivity. Three of them, Kerstin, Stefan, and Felix, were born and raised in the cellar with Elisabeth, and never saw the outside world until their rescue. The other three, Alexander, Monika, and Lisa, were taken out of the cellar by Josef when they were infants, and left on the doorstep of the Fritzl house, with notes claiming that Elisabeth had abandoned them and wanted her parents to take care of them. Josef and his wife, Rosemarie, then adopted them as their grandchildren and raised them on the house’s upper floors.
Elisabeth Fritzl and her children were reunited after their liberation and formed bonds with each other. They also reconnected with their relatives and received support from the local community. They underwent medical and psychological treatment and learned to cope with the trauma of their past and to enjoy the normalcy of their present. They also received new identities and new names, to protect their privacy
Where is Elisabeth Fritzl Now?
Elisabeth Fritzl is now 57 years old and lives in a two-story house in a small Austrian village, which is only referred to as “Village X” by the media. Her new home is constantly under CCTV surveillance and police cover, to ensure her safety and security. She also has video cameras, CCTV-operated gates, and trees that shield the windows.
Elisabeth has found happiness and peace in her new life and has many hobbies and interests. She likes gardening, painting, cooking, and traveling. She also has pets, such as dogs and cats. She posts photos of her family, her pets, her travels, and her hobbies on her Instagram account, which she created in 2019. She has over 10,000 followers, who admire her courage and resilience. She also uses the platform to raise awareness and support for survivors of abuse and trauma.
Documentary
Several documentaries have been made about Elisabeth Fritzl’s case, which is one of the most notorious and shocking examples of abuse, incest, and captivity in the world. Some of the documentaries are:
- Monster: The Josef Fritzl Story (2010): This documentary features interviews with family members, doctors, and victims of Josef Fritzl, who reveal his background, personality, and motives. It also shows the two faces of Josef Fritzl, who successfully hid his malicious tendencies from the Amstetten community for decades.
- The Fritzl Affair (2016): This documentary examines the life of Josef Fritzl, and how he managed to imprison and rape his daughter for 24 years, without anyone suspecting his crimes. It also explores the psychological impact of his actions on Elisabeth and her children, and how they recovered from their ordeal.
- The Secrets of the Austrian Cellar (2011): This documentary tells the story of Elisabeth Fritzl, who was locked in a cellar and repeatedly raped by her father over 24 years. It also shows the reactions of the media and the public, who were shocked and horrified by the case.
