Wednesday 30 April 2008

What is on your doorstep?

What an awful story about Josef Fritzl, the Austrian man who is accused of keeping his daughter captive in a windowless cellar for 24 years, with three of her children. He has admitted imprisoning and raping his daughter and fathering her seven children. He has also admitted to disposing of the body of the one of the children in an incinerator shortly after the birth.

This seems so evil, it is hardly believable... but a living nightmare for Elizabeth and her children, who had to live through it. It is impossible to imagine how they must now feel. They are starting out on a new, better life ...but one which will not be easy for them, to deal with the past.

Neighbours must be stunned at the horror of this and the fact that this has happened on their doorstep. How fortunate we are - if we have a warm, loving family, or if we have encouraging and supportive parents, or if we have freedom to make our own decisions and live our life as we choose. Priceless gifts.

1 comment:

zeppo said...

1. The wife doesn't clue in that something's not right despite three babies from her lost daughter being dropped on her doorstep. She lives with the guy for how long and doesn't read the tiniest bit of deceit; no strange facial expressions, no halting answers to questions - nothing - for 24 years.

2. The (legitimate) siblings (4 or 6 of them) don't clue in either even though they have nephews and nieces being dropped off every once in a while. No questions? Why don't we try and find Elisabeth to see if she's okay? no. Don't go in the basement - why not? no.

3. The police don't seem to find the appearance of grandchildren at irregular intervals the least bit puzzling. Austrian Police Officer: "Baby dropped off by errant cult-captive daughter. Hmmm. That's form 217-J: please initial here and here and sign and date there. Very good; congratulations on your new grandchild! Bye."

4. We have the resident who knows about the missing daughter, sees Mr. Fritzl carting food to the basement, hears strange noises from the basement, and is told never to go in to the basement. "Nah, couldn't be."

"Wow" is all I can say about Austrians. How many great detectives have come from there?
At least Britain has had a few.