In his first interview from behind bars, the Austrian who locked his daughter in a basement for 24 years says he still loves her but dreams of being reunited with his wife
In his first interview from behind bars, the Austrian who locked his daughter in a basement for 24 years says he still loves her but dreams of being reunited with his wifeDefiant and unbowed, the man who the world regards as a monster for imprisoning and raping his own daughter for 24 years says he still 'loves' his victim.
Fritzl was reluctant to speak about Elisabeth, the daughter he held captive, but revealed to German newspaper Bild he had written eight letters to Elisabeth's mother.
"I never got an answer," he told Bild.
"But I know that she loves me still."
It is the first time Fritzl (75), has spoken publicly. He is 18 months into a life sentence.
He reportedly told the newspaper, during a 70 minute interview, he did not want to talk about Elisabeth after being asked if he regretted what he did to her.
When pushed on the matter, he spoke of love.
"Love. We reporters were left speechless," the Bild journalist wrote.
He then went on to speak about his wife, Rosemary, who divorced him following his conviction on charges of rape, slavery, imprisonment and negligent homicide.
One of the seven children he fathered with Elisabeth, who was 11 when the abuse began, died shortly after birth.
Fritzl then told the newspaper he was scared someone would steal his wife.
"At night he often thinks of his wife," the journalist wrote.
Future dreams"My dream is that I will get out of here alive. I want to look after my wife again because she always displayed loyalty to me."
None of Fritzl's 13 children, including the six he fathered with Elisabeth, have visited him in prison.
"My children are intercepted by the institute before they can come to me," he told the newspaper.
He also says his favourite show to watch on TV in his cell is Two And A Half Men because the teenage boy in the show reminds him of his son.
Elisabeth, now 43, is in a relationship with a man who was formerly her guard.
Fritzl is known to have sent letters to his daughter, asking her for money.
Tale of horrorFritzl fathered seven children by Elisabeth one of whom died shortly after birth. He burnt the body in an oven.
Three incest children Lisa, Monika, and Alexander ufffd were removed by Fritzl to be brought up with him and his wife: the so-called 'upstairs children'. Elisabeth survived in the dungeon with the 'downstairs' children ufffd daughter Kerstin, Stefan, and Felix, until Kerstin became dangerously ill, was taken to hospital and the cellar and its secrets were exposed.
