A notorious Austrian rapist is stirring controversy as he has demanded a house with a basement ahead of a potential parole release, despite holding his daughter captive in a dungeon for years.
Josef Fritzl, now 89, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009 after being convicted of incest, rape, coercion, false imprisonment and enslavement, according to the Express.
For 24 years, he held his daughter, Elisabeth, prisoner in the basement of their family home, fathering seven children through sexual abuse.
Since becoming eligible for parole in 2023 under Austrian law, Fritzl had been held in a psychiatric detention unit but was transferred to a normal prison in 2024 after assessments of his dementia and reduced threat level.
Despite his history, Fritzl has requested housing with a basement if released, citing a need to store his extensive collection of documents and files.
Fritzl's legal team also claims he requires a residence near a train station due to no longer feeling confident driving. The parole process remains ongoing, with Fritzl's demands sparking public outrage. His potential parole application is expected in May.
Originally published on Latin Times
