Its really unfortunate that things like this happen, i sincerely hope the press leaves elisabeth out of being publicised because all anyone can do for her and her children is let them have peace to get over the trauma. As for Joseph Fritzl, i pray God forgives him and i hope he gets a life sentence. Please mail me on the verdict.

Thank you.

What a brilliantly written article, and so well put. Great comments, and yes, I am sure everyone in the world, not just Austria, will agree with every word you have said. How can anyone possibly NOT? This man should die a very painful and slow death.

Bravo! Responsible, sensitive reporting. The public certainly doesn't need to know every sordid detail of this poor woman's horrific experience. She has a right to try to get through her own private hell as far away from the limelight as she can stay. Giving details, because people think they have a sense of entitlement to another individuals pain is ludacris. Bringing details to the surface and allowing them to become public would prolong the issue and fuel the fire. This woman and her children have been through too much already. One would think she or the children will never fully recover, but it is our humane duty to let them have closure. Peace be with her on her long road. Many thanks to you on your well written compassionate article.

I do hope that he has plenty of time alone to think about what he did. I also hope Elisabeth and her children have a good life for the rest of their lives. I hope her children get to make friends and enjoy the rest of the family.

100% support on the decision to leave the family alone to give them back some peace.

You are FAR better then most reporters and I salute you. Too many a time you hear about reporters who barge into the most private of situations, claiming freedom of the press and the publics right to know. All these reporters ever care about is the next awe inspiring, gasp worthy, story. You, and your crew, actually acknowledge that some things don't need to be told. Sometimes some things need to drift into obscurity.

Well done, bravo, and one more salute. Now let's get back to hoping the scumbag actually survives a decade or so in there. Let him experience what it's like.

How did she have the babies? Was the man a medical doctor? How were they feeding? What of baby food? What did they wear? Could she not refuse his monstrouse adventures? What type of man was he? Did he have a job? Was he not going out? Did the wife suspect his movements? I can not understand how a man could do this? Was the wife not in the house for him to have sex with? Did he ever go to church? Did he not know that his actions are against the Bible. He sinned against God and should repent.If he does not ask God to forgive him he will go to hell

I sympathise with your view and thanks God there are still journalists with conscience. I have CNN as my home page and whenever I see news about this case I'm not sure if I should read them or not, it's such a nightmaire and how you said, I'm not intersted in all the details about this horible experience. I avoid to read them, I never read the lines with details, I can't.
And yes, all I hope is that this girl (she is a grown woman now, but I can't stop myself seeing her as the vulnerable girl who was abused first) and his children will live finally a peacefull life.

I would so much like that is more done by media for the children who are victims in this world. Take Charles Manson, I knew about him as the murderer and today, when CNN published the new photos of him, I checked on wikipedia to find out what a terrible life as a child he lived. Don't take me wrong, I don't have any understending for his crimes, but look what a childhood. Why do we do this to our children? If I harmed an adult in any way I would be convicted but children are in adults hands all day long, vulnerable and most of the time abused (small abuses, big ones) back the closed doors and it's just normal. I just don't understand why we don't have more powerful movements for the rights of children and awareness campaignes for the ones who are to become parents, what responsabilities you have as a parent.

I commend your professionalism and that of youyr camerawoman in deciding NOT to interview Elizabeth Fritzi SHOULD you ever run into her. In Great Britian and the USA the media assumes they are entitled to know ALL the facts and pass them onto the public.

I am dissappointed that this monster of a father was sentenced to a mental hospital facility rather than an ordinary prison. This is no justice for Elizabeth. It simply protects this monster and asks civilized people to be compassionate toward such an evil man.

We all have a right to privacy, she especially... I feel that anyone moved in any way by this, be it compassion for her and her children or disgust for the perversion of Josef (I can't call him her father, he's just a monster) would agree that she's already been denied so much. A chance of a normal life for her is far and beyond a greater thing than satisfaction of curiosity for details. I hate to say it but the human attention span is not very long, if she were found and sick curiosity for detail satisfied it would be only for a moment in our lives but another sacrifice in hers. We can't take back what's been done, we all want to see justice and her privacy, health and safety are as much a part of that justice as Josef's prosecution. As much as I want him to rot with guilt I want for her whatever she wants.

Fritzl would make a good cell mate for Bernard Madoff. Their characters are the lowest and worst of people we know alive on our planet at this time.

What about his WIFE? The mother of Elisabeth? In an earlier article she was mentioned, whats her excuse?

This guy had 31 years to be sorry: since he starts raping his daughter when she was 11 years old.
It was interesting his remark that he would have done much worse if he haven't do what he did with his daughter. For sure he would be a serial killer, of that kind that rapes and kills dozens of victims, hiding their bodies God knows where. It seams his daughter, with her sacrifice, salved a lot of lives.

There is no type of punishment that would ever be enough for this man. I continue to believe that what goes around comes around and he will pay his price, maybe not here on earth but in hell. My prayers are with the daughter and surving children.

Elizabeth is an incredible woman. I can't even begin to imagine the horrors she endured; the dark, the loliness and the monster. I hope one day she writes a book about it and make millions.

Elizabeth is an inspiration to us all. God bless her and her children.

This guy had 31 years to be sorry: since he starts raping his daughter when she was 11 years old.
It was interesting his remark that he would have done much worse if he haven't do what he did to his daughter. For sure he would be a serial killer, of that kind that rapes and kills dozens of victims, hiding their bodies God knows where. It seams his daughter, with her sacrifice, salved a lot of lives.

I shudder at what he did to his own flesh and blood.
we have no right to know about the victims where abouts etc.
TO Stephan from Charlotte NC..
I agree with yo the he and Madoff should be cell mates.. ooh to be a fly on the wall in that scene ( lol rotflmao )

i am about the same age as Elizabeth and a mother of 3 daughters

i think of her all the time and always pray for her ... i feel part of her life for some reason ...wish i could jus hug her .........

her powerful will to live and survive gives me daily strenghth
she is my unsung hero
when people complain ....i always say .....think of Elizabeth and nothing else matters
so heres to My Elizabeth !!!!!!!

If I were the judge... I would sentence him to life prison in the dungeon he created, bearing the same kind of torture he gave to his daughter and children.... This man doesnt even deserve a trial!

Just shut him in there, and dont open the door until he dies of suffocation and staravation....

I agree with all of your msgs. As a reader, I am more curious about what made this creature the perverted monster that he is – hoping to avoid future perverted monsters from being created. My heart goes out to Elizabeth and her family and wish them to enjoy the rest of their lives to the utmost. It burns me however that criminals almost always have more 'rights' than their victims. I firmly believe that Fritzl should be sentenced to 24 years in a windowless cramped cell identical to the one he inflicted on his own family. Why can't the punishment fit the crime? And maybe a roommate of another persuasion?

Thank God for a few professional reporters with a heart and concious that realize that we as public do not have the need to know all the horrific details that Elisabeth had to suffer at the hands of her biologic monster that calls himself her father. She and her children will most likely never recover, and for this I am saddened. I can only pray for peace for her and her children and hope that they can find some happiness. I also pray that ALL reporters will follow suit and LEAVE this family ALONE!!! They have already suffered too much. Let us NOT make their new freedom a new form of prison. Let each of us remember the golden rule where Elisabeth is concerned..."do unto others as we would have done to us". As for Josef, I hope your new confinement is only the beginning of your hell.

Marci, even though I agree with everything you say, and know you like Ludacris, the word is spelled Ludicrous.

This is the least of things he deserves.He should be kept in a dungeon and never be allowed to see daylight for the small number of years he has.

Life in prison is NOT ENOUGH. Can you imagine being locked up in a dungeon by someone who rapes you for 24 years. You don't see daylight for 24 years. Your children have been mentally raped all their lives. And that someone is your "father". I even believe execution is not good enough in some cases. He is not insane. He is a monster and no punishment is good enough. From the bottom of my heart I wish Elisabeth and her children happiness. They can never get over what they have lived through but hopefully they can start a new path in life.

What a horrendous human being. I sincerely hope that he suffers as much as his daughter and her family did in that cellar all those years. I pray that God give her peace and a happy life, Lord knows she deserves it. As for him, I pray that he suffers.... A LOT, and when he is done suffering in this world, I hope that he continues to suffer in the next...that is what he deserves. God bless Elisabeth and her children...may they find peace, happiness, and comfort.

I too, really appreciate responsible Journalist. It seems that Elisabeth and her children have already lived a horrific life, they don't need to be bombarded by the media to just add insult to injury. However, the nagging questions that I have are: Was Fritzl's wife not aware that he had Elisabeth in the basement? Couldn't Elisabeth and her children scream out for help at some point? Couldn't Elisabeth and her children over-power Fritzl? I guess this case is just too difficult for me to process. I am not at all blaming Elisabeth for anything, but I feel like she and her children could have formed a coup and brought old Fritzl down.

God bless you and keep you Elizabeth, and your children. May you have all the peace you deserve.

This is a very troubling story. You have to wonder as to what the mental state of Fritzl was. I am amazed to read the stories of what people are capable of doing. Now clearly i do not sympathize with the man, but something has to be really wrong with him to be able to do this for so long. Especially allowing the death of his own child. I hope some good comes out of this story. I hope the victims can assume what normal life possible given what took place in their lives for so long.

He's only sorry he got caught. Had he not been caught, Elizabeth's ordeal would still go on. I hope she can rebuild herself and enjoy life like she deserves it. Good luck to her.
Now let's lock him up, throw away the key, and let him rot in oblivion for eternity.

Its like finding out that VC Andrews knew what she was writing when she wrote "Flowers in the Attic" except its the basement this time. This is a very very sick man, and I pray for his family to be able to find peace and sanity, some sort of a regular life. Living through all that, I have no idea what may constitute as feeling safe and regular. Thank you for refusing to further torment this family and hold them in the past. This story is horrific enough, without the world looking upon the pity of every sordid detail.

This man should not be jailed, he should be executed, and taken out of the life of his daughter and her children. Knowing this monster is alive in prison will only prolong the pain and memory for those envolved.

Bless you for protecting the privacy of the innocent, weak and vulnerable. I am in complete agreement with the press and opinions. Elizabeth and family need to be left alone. This horrible thing has NOTHING to do with Austria, it could happen anywhere a person is that sick and wrong. I am grateful to know that journalism has people of great integrity. Thank you

I think this is man is a psyco. He prefers a death sentence to a life sentence... I just hope we can keep Elisabeth and her children from the press...

What about the children he took upstairs to live with him and his wife? Have they been returned to the daughter?

Time has come to ask the voice within ourselves..How can a man do this and lead a civilized life to the outside world. Are not we all animals? This guy should not be jailed but should be in the museum..flown from one town to another, one country to another and showcased to the public. so that we look at him and be scared and never try to nurture the animal within us.

What is sad is that he received life in a mental hospital and his daughter and her children who did nothing wrong have probably received that same sentence... They will never get over the trauma and live "normal" lives...

Fritzl and Madoff would be good cellmates with another rapist and see how they react to be victims of crime.

Very good and respectful reporting!
My heart goes out to Elisabeth and her children. I fell for Mr. Fritzl for when he faces God for judgement. I would not want to be in his shoes on that day! Sick, sick man.

Mental hospital is wrong for this character. He knew exactly what
evil he was doing....I wanted solitary 24 hours a day except for
a shower one day a week and never any outdoor time where
he could see the sun or a blue sky or even a tree.

I have been saying it since day one of this nightmare...he deserves a life sentence -with life meaning life. HE should be locked in a dark dungeon and never be let out again. Ever.

"we all agreed we would prefer to leave them be" Kudos to you and your collegues. This is something that American journalists may want to note for future reference and practice. There are some things, in respect to personal lives of victims/celebrities/etc that need to stay PRIVATE. Not only for the well being of the subject of your pieces, but as a form of respect for your fellow human beings.

Leave the famiy alone. They have suffered enough. Even if we, as a public whole, have a right to know about them, does not make it correct to inform us. Elisabeth will probably tell her story in the future, as will her kids. But if not, we needn´t know a thing.

Let Josef experience what his daughter and grandchildren experience. I say leave him in the open ocean with a trail of chum and let the sharks have at him

I agree wholeheartedly with the author's comments with respect to privacy of the victims. Certainly Elisabeth and her children will never recieve the adequate justice for what they endured regardless of whether we are privy to the details or not.
The 'fairness' of the justice system in the modern world, while appropriate in most cases, incenses me in this case. The Austrian justce system will, because of its rules, be undoubtedly kind to Frtizl relative to his crimes. This man built a cellar which means he planned sufficiently in advance – which makes his apology added insult to injury – God knows he is not capable of remorse. I find it injust that the max sentence for the charge of slavery to be 20 years when his victims were held captive for 24!! Its sad that he will likely be treated like a normal prisoner (with access to timely meals, interaction with other humans, healthcare, fresh air, seeing the sun! entertainment etc.) which is far too easy a price for him to pay for having deprived his own blood of these simple human liberties we all take for granted. He deserves to be treated the same way and not any better.
Stephen I must disagree, while Madoff is a villan also, his crimes were money and he robbed for the most part very rich people and while i feel sorry for them, i know they will recover in sprit whether they get their money back or not. I fear however that Elisabeth and her children especially will have slim chances at ever living a 'normal' life and for this reason Fritzl's crimes make him the vilest of creatures to ever exist.

Well written. As a christian man i would say the final word is that of our supreme god. Fritzl has a lot of repenting to do. I only hope his daughter and children can find some semblance of a normal life. My prayers are with them.

This story just proves how messed up the judicial system really is! Why in the hell shoud he be allowed to spend the rest of his life in a mental institution getting therapy or whatever they would do with him there? He shoud be put in the worst possible prison with the worst criminals out there. In a dark cell with no light and should go days without food, where he should be raped and beaten! That would not even compare to the hell he put his own daughter through. His sentence is a joke and the judge in this case should be ashamed of himself and be slapped in the face! Wake up everyone, these kinds of things will continue to happen because the violaters simply get slapped on the wrist for these horrible crimes they commit, and NEVER really are held fully responsible. To you judge, you are just as sick as the man being convicted!

I think it is important to remember this case, and remember that there may be (probably is) another Fritzi out there, and we as human being living in societies should be aware of our surroundings and ask questions when we feel something is wrong.
I am sure someone (his wife, a relative or friend of the family) must have found it peculiar that the daughter “Ran Off” and sporadic children appeared on the doorstep.
Let us all take this atrocity as a warning that we as a society need to step up and not just leave ours, and others, well being to the authorities.
Take note, pose questions, and inform of our suspicions.
While not trying to propose that we as human beings should be running to the police on every whim, I do feel that if something looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck …. A few pointed observations may suggest that under the fancy charade actually lies a duck!
I apologize of course to all ducks for dragging them into a comparison with the monster Fritzi.

Just out of curiosity. How did she give birth to all the children? Is he also a midwife? Or he actually had some help?

This story somewhat doesnt add up. What happened to be body of the died baby, where was it buried, by who??

Elizabeth is a brave woman, to not only have endured 24 years of horrific abuse, the loss of her children and trying to raise those she did have under trying circumstances-amazing courage. I pray for her and her children to find peace and happiness, they deserve it.

Stephen, great suggestion about Fritzl and Madoff sharing a cell together. They both carry the face of evil and i hope that they both never live life as a "free" person. I fully believe they both harbour demons in their souls.

Really? Grouping Bernie Madoff and this monster? I am appalled that people are comparing these two man. Financial ruin is not a crime akin to torture, rape, incest, and whatever other crimes this monster committed. The unspeakable injustices that this poor woman suffered can not be compared to any loss of money. Stealing money from individuals who made poor investment choices on any scale is not the same as stealing someone's life from them and subjecting them to the atrocities that this woman was forced to endure. Making such a comparison is, quite simply, disgusting, naive, and horribly disturbing.

Dear Ms. Magnay:

First, agreed, we do not have to know the grim details.

Second, continue with the classy reporting. There isn't enough of it any more.

I still can not realize and believe that what has happened is real and not a horror film scenario.

How could this happen in modern society ?

A million KUDOS to the comments left by "J", and by "Geoffrey Fernandes" above!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well stated! But I'd like to add 'CASTRATE' the beast!!!

A million thoughts and prayers to the daughter and the children that suffered through this! Where ever they are, I hope they are coping and living as well as they can. HUGS to all of them!!!