More details are coming out of the cellar in the horrifying imprisonment/incest story — despite the Austrian government's efforts to minimize one of the most bizarre cases in recent memory. After Josef Fritzl was arrested for imprisoning his daughter in a windowless room for over 24 years and forcing her to conceive seven children, Austria's chancellor, Alfred Gusenbauer, said “it’s not Austria that is the perpetrator. . . we won’t allow the whole country to be held hostage by one man.” Austria is actually planning to hire image consultants to restore the nation’s image.
The horror of Josef Fritzl might not end at the cellar door. The Amstetten police are now looking into the murder of a 17-year-old girl whose body was found 22 years ago. The police are looking into the possibility of a connection between her murder and Josef Fritzl, as his wife owned an inn on the other side of the lake where the girl's body was found. To see the most bizarre twist in the story, read more.
In what could only be a terrible family reunion, the three “above-ground” grandchildren of the gruesome procreation were reunited with the three “basement” grandchildren for the first time since the capture and arrest of their father. Fritzl had kept three of the surviving six children underground where they were never allowed to see daylight, while raising the other three as his own grandchildren in the apartment.
The director of the clinic where the reunion took place said, “it was astonishing how easy it was.” She then reported that even Elisabeth (the daughter who was held captive and forced to conceive) and her mother (Fritzl’s wife) “interacted very naturally." DNA tests have proven that Fritzl is the father of all of the children.
Does this case tarnish Austria's image, or is it an isolated story? Are you surprised that the government is focusing on this aspect? Does it seem odd given that the family was allowed to interact together? Are you following this story, or are you put off by its tabloid nature?
Giorgio Fedon
T-Bags
Lanvin
ha it is SO tabloid. I don't think my opinion of Austria changed one bit since the story broke - just tell them to play My Fair Lady a few times on ABC Family this weekend and all should be mended.
1Why would Austria be to blame in the first place? That's just bizarre.
2I've been following the story and I do think Austria's image is tarnished in light of this and 2006's Natascha Kampusch case. I kind of wonder if these brutal perversions are in any way linked to the nation's history with the Nazi party? Or if the Austrian government is taking steps to avoid people assuming a connection with this and their brutal past?
3Thats weird that they let them all get together, I wonder what the thought process was there. But no, I still love Austria... Arnold comes from there, how can you not love it!?
4I still think the wife's role needs to be fully investigated because that whole story is SHADY!
5My comment is made also in light of the high-profile cannibal case last year even though it involved a German man that happened to be in Vienna when he committed his crime.
6But the U.S. has had at least one major cannibal case, women disappear regularly and their tortured bodies are found tossed in ditches, there have been a number of stories about imprisoned starved children (maybe not with the sexual aspect)... and we make movies about these creepy things and send them out into the world as entertainment - why would anyone think less of Austria because of one case?
7I think Austria is paranoid.
I agree with stephley -- the USofA has put on the movie screen much more horrendous things than this and not even blinked an eye.
It's our prurient interest that keeps this in the papers.
Austria is still one of the most lovely places in the world and produced some great musicians.
8i will be in austria in a few weeks, and I can tell you the last thing I'll be thinking of is THIS. Trust me Austria, I'll be paying more attention to how well you treat tired travellers who don't speak German!
9For me it's just an isolated, but terrifying story.
10I don't think any different of Austria. I do wonder however about the policemen who worked on the case when the girl disappeared and them mother, but these are isolated people, not the whole country.
11I want to watch Sound of Music.
12ME TOO! I was looking up Salzburg and there is a Fraulein Maria's Bike Tour. You bike around to all the places in the city where the movie was filmed. Awesome!!!
13That's a good antidote, cine! I was in Austria last year and had a great time. A single horrible crime won't change my view of the place - it's a completely isolated incident.
14Arnie is from Austria! Ilove the sound of music too!
15I don't think any differently of Austria. This is a completely isolated case. I've sort of been following this story, it just amazes me that this woman was trapped in her father's basement and fathered all of her children without his wife knowing.
16Ah I want to ride a bike in Austria!
17I just can't imagine not noticing my daughters reactions, actions, behavior, toward my husband. I can't imagine not seeing something wrong with my eleven year old daughter and it continuing until she's 18.
Then, I can't imagine not ever giving up on looking for her. I don't care what age she was. If my daughter said she was running away, or disappeared, I would never stop looking for her. There is definately something wrong with this picture.
I don't at all think that Austria is a bad place because of it. Gosh, America has awful things like this too. These stories are everywhere.
18I want to do anything in Austria!
19Well maybe not ANYTHING!
20harts - I was all like
who is this extremely intelligent 
posting? And then I looked at the name and it was YOU! Love the new avatar. What a sweetheart 
21Salzburg is GORGEOUS!!! But soooo expensive, its not even funny! I felt like I couldn't even afford to BREATHE there...
... I did, however, get to see the new Audi R8 parked on the street before it hit the states though, so that made me pretty happy!
22ooooooooh audi
23I cant tell you how many times I almost got killed by a random Audi careening through the platz... it became a running joke... a literally, RUNNING joke... haha!
24the only city i visited was Innsbruck, and it was lovely. we drove there from Germany, which was nice too. Then we went to H&M, which we don't have here in tx so I get exicted about it.
25harts that sure is a cute little pumpkin you have there!
26I
your new avatar harts!
27No H&M in Texas? Crazy.
28They may have it now in Houston or Dallas, but I don't really get there too much.
29Thanks Syako!
30I LOVE H&M, oh how I miss it... but there is very little size consistency there, that drives me crazy!
31no h&m in the south at all. boo
guys I move up north east on May 24!!!
32Aww! Thanks guys!
I thinks he's pretty cute too!
33You are moving away from me! I was going to take a road trip down I-10 and eat crawfish with you someday.
34Moving to my neck of the woods
That makes me happy!
35Don't let those Libs get to you
36well my fams all still here so I'll make the trip down too!
37They won't, I'm a fighter (say like christina aguilera)
38A lot of things are weird and more shocking about the US, but we also have more stories that catch international attention besides those and that was not the focus of the citizensugar qurestion.
Austria has had the misfortune of three high-profile cases in three years catching headlines. I can see why they would want to work some PR against them because they do tarnish their image. I think Austria s gorgeous based on pictures I have seen and wouldn't turn down a trip to go, but I understand why they would want to showcase more that the country has to offer than these incidents.
39I already looked and there are like 4 H&Ms right by me!
40oh you are just being MEAN now, Sy!
41Just think of how much easier our get together will be
42I know!! I'm really getting excited. But job searches SUCK!
Kris you'll have to come and visit/meet up
with cine and I for an H&M 
extravaganza.
43woo! extravaganza! I have a friend in NYC who is going to have a baby pretty soon. after i get back from my Holiday Road Trip I want to come visit NYC and see the little pumpkin. and ya'll too!
44
45Are you going to be close to D.C?
46Ooooo SO come to NYC! I will show you around. It will be so much fun!
47it will! I have always wanted to go. Now that I have a friend who lives there, it's going to be so much easier. and now i have Cine!
48Yep. North of it in MD.
49wow, ya'll are like train ride close.
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