What is Josef Fritzl?
{{Use British English}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox criminal | name = Josef Fritzl | image = | image_upright = | image_size = | birth_name = Josef Fritzl | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1935|4|9}} | birth_place = [[Amstetten, Lower Austria|Amstetten]], [[Lower Austria]], [[Federal State of Austria|Austria]] | death_date = | death_place = | nationality = Austrian | known_for = Imprisoning and raping his daughter Elisabeth | conviction = [[Negligent homicide|Murder by negligence]], [[rape]], and other charges | conviction_penalty = [[Life imprisonment]] | conviction_status = Incarcerated at [[Garsten Abbey]] | spouse = Rosemarie Fritzl (m. 1956; div. 2012) | footnotes = }} '''Josef Fritzl''' (born 9 April 1935) is an [[Austrian people|Austrian]] [[criminal]] who has been convicted in the [[Fritzl case]]. He held his [[daughter]] Elisabeth captive in a [[basement]] [[dungeon]] that he built under his [[house]]. Fritzl made his daughter write letters to him and her [[mother]], saying she had joined a [[cult]].{{cn|date=November 2024}} During the 24 years that he had her confined in the basement, Fritzl often [[Incest|raped his daughter]], and she had seven children with him because of this. One of the baby boys died and Fritzl burned his [[body]]. The police eventually found out about his crimes when one of the children became very sick and he took her to the [[hospital]].{{cn|date=November 2024}} Fritzl was tried and convicted on several charges, and he was sentenced to [[life imprisonment]] in a facility for the [[Mental illness|mentally ill]] in March 2009. Fritzl could become eligible for release after fifteen years, but he is expected to be in prison until he dies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7371959.stm |title=Profile: Josef Fritzl |access-date=2012-12-02 |date=19 March 2009 |publisher=BBC News }}</ref> A [[Forensic science|forensic]] [[psychiatrist]] [[Diagnosis|diagnose]]d him with a [[personality disorder]] and a [[:en:Sexual_disorder|sexual disorder]]