A girl goes missing. But she never leaves her home.

In this chilling episode, we unravel the case of Josef Fritzl—the Austrian father who imprisoned his daughter Elisabeth in a hidden cellar for 24 years. While the world believed she’d joined a cult, Fritzl was raising two separate families: one in the light… and one in total darkness.

What begins as a missing person case unravels into one of the most horrifying deceptions in modern history.

When a teenage girl collapses in 2008, doctors start asking questions. And behind eight locked doors, the truth begins to surface.

Listen @Siblingsincrimepod everywhere

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual violence, incest, child abuse, and long-term captivity. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

Sources:

• The Guardian, “The basement torture chamber of Josef Fritzl,” 2008
• https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/apr/28/austria.internationalcrime
• BBC News, “Josef Fritzl: The man who imprisoned his daughter,” 2009
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17820709
• Der Spiegel, “Fritzl Speaks: ‘I Knew What I Was Doing Was Wrong,’” 2008
• https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/fritzl-speaks-i-knew-what-i-was-doing-was-wrong-a-552224.html
• ABC News, “Josef Fritzl Admits Imprisoning Daughter for 24 Years,” 2008
• https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=5044586
• Reuters, “Neighbors relieved as Fritzl dungeon sealed off,” 2013
• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-austria-fritzl-idUSBRE95K0F520130621