What We Know About Her Involvement

Early Life of Rosemarie Fritzl

Rosemarie Fritzl, born in 1941, was the daughter of a wealthy businessman in Austria. She met Josef Fritzl, who was six years older than her, when she was just 17 years old. They fell in love and got married in 1956.

Rosemarie and Josef had seven children together, including Elisabeth, who was born in 1966. Josef would go on to imprison and sexually abuse Elisabeth for 24 years.

Rosemarie was known to be a quiet and reserved person who kept to herself. She was a housewife and took care of the family home while Josef ran his construction business. According to reports, she was not aware of the horrors that were taking place in the basement of their home.

In an interview with The Sun, a family friend said that Rosemarie was a victim of Josef’s abuse as well. The friend claimed that Josef was controlling and abusive towards Rosemarie and that she was afraid to speak out or leave him.

Despite being married to Josef for over 50 years, Rosemarie has remained largely out of the public eye. After Josef’s arrest in 2008, she moved out of the family home and changed her name to avoid media attention.

Overall, Rosemarie’s early life was one of relative normality until she met and married Josef Fritzl. She went on to have a large family with him, but was ultimately a victim of his abusive and controlling behaviour.

Marriage to Josef Fritzl

Josef Fritzl was married to Rosemarie Fritzl, his wife of over 50 years. They got married in 1956 and had three children together before Josef began to imprison and abuse their daughter Elisabeth.

Rosemarie was reportedly unaware of Josef’s crimes and had no knowledge of the basement where he kept Elisabeth captive for 24 years. She claimed that she never knew what was happening and that Josef had threatened her and the rest of the family if they ever tried to investigate or interfere.

However, some sources suggest that Rosemarie may have had some suspicions or at least some knowledge of Josef’s behaviour. For example, neighbours reported hearing screams and cries coming from the house, and some of Josef’s other children have claimed that they were abused by him as well.

Despite this, Rosemarie has never been charged with any crimes and has largely remained out of the public eye since the case came to light in 2008.

Overall, the exact nature of Rosemarie’s involvement or lack thereof in Josef’s crimes remains unclear and controversial.

The Discovery of the Cellar

When Elisabeth Fritzl disappeared in 1984, her mother Rosemarie Fritzl was told by her husband, Josef Fritzl, that their daughter had run away from home to join a religious cult. For the next 24 years, Rosemarie believed this lie and had no idea that her daughter was being held captive in a secret cellar beneath their family home in Amstetten, Austria.

It wasn’t until Elisabeth’s eldest daughter, Kerstin, became seriously ill in April 2008 that the truth about the cellar was finally revealed. Josef Fritzl took Kerstin to the hospital and told doctors that she had been left on his doorstep by Elisabeth, who he claimed was part of the cult. However, doctors quickly realised that Kerstin was suffering from a life-threatening condition and needed urgent medical attention.

When Josef Fritzl was contacted by the hospital and asked to provide more information about Kerstin’s medical history, he realised that his lies were about to be exposed. He told his wife Rosemarie that Elisabeth and her children were being held captive in the cellar and that she needed to contact the authorities.

Rosemarie was shocked and horrified by this revelation. She had no idea that her husband had been keeping Elisabeth and her children imprisoned for more than two decades. She immediately contacted the police, who arrived at the family home and discovered the secret cellar.

Elisabeth and her children were finally freed from their captivity, and Josef Fritzl was arrested and charged with multiple counts of rape, incest, and imprisonment. Rosemarie was not charged with any crimes, as there was no evidence to suggest that she knew about her husband’s actions.

The discovery of the cellar was a shocking and horrifying moment in Austrian history, and it remains one of the most notorious cases of abuse and imprisonment in modern times.

Rosemarie Fritzl’s Reaction to the Discovery

Rosemarie Fritzl, the ex-wife of Josef Fritzl, was shocked and horrified upon learning about the atrocities committed by her former husband. She claimed that she had no knowledge of the horrific acts that were taking place in their basement, where Josef had imprisoned and sexually abused their daughter, Elisabeth, for 24 years.

During the trial, Rosemarie appeared in court as a witness and testified that she had no idea about the existence of the secret basement where her daughter was being held captive. She claimed that her husband had always been a controlling and abusive man, but she never suspected that he was capable of such heinous crimes.

Rosemarie’s testimony was met with mixed reactions from the public, with some sympathizing with her and others accusing her of being complicit in the abuse. Despite the controversy surrounding her involvement, there is no evidence to suggest that Rosemarie had any knowledge of the situation.

After the trial, Rosemarie left the town of Amstetten and went into hiding. She reportedly changed her name and moved to a secret location to avoid media attention and public scrutiny.

In conclusion, Rosemarie Fritzl’s reaction to the discovery of her husband’s crimes was one of shock and horror. While some have accused her of being complicit in the abuse, there is no evidence to support these claims. Rosemarie’s testimony during the trial suggests that she had no knowledge of the situation and was a victim of her husband’s controlling and abusive behaviour.

Investigation and Trial

During the investigation and trial of Josef Fritzl, his wife Rosemarie was questioned extensively about her knowledge of her husband’s actions. According to reports, Rosemarie claimed that she had no knowledge of Josef’s crimes and was shocked when she found out about them.

However, some experts have suggested that it is unlikely that Rosemarie was completely unaware of what was happening in their home. In particular, it has been noted that Josef’s behaviour towards his daughter Elisabeth was extremely unusual and would have been difficult to hide from his wife.

During the trial, Rosemarie was not charged with any crimes and was allowed to leave the courtroom after giving her testimony. However, some members of the public have criticised her for not doing more to stop Josef’s actions.

Despite her claims of ignorance, Rosemarie’s reputation has been severely damaged by her association with Josef’s crimes. She has been described as a victim of her husband’s abuse, but some people have also questioned whether she should have done more to protect her children.

Overall, the question of whether Rosemarie knew about Josef’s crimes remains a matter of debate. While some experts believe that it is unlikely that she was completely unaware, there is no concrete evidence to suggest that she was complicit in her husband’s actions.

Rosemarie Fritzl’s Life After the Trial

Rosemarie Fritzl, the wife of Josef Fritzl, has largely remained out of the public eye after the trial. She was not charged with any crimes and was widely believed to have been unaware of her husband’s horrific actions.

After the revelations of the case, Rosemarie was reported to have gone into hiding, living in a small village under a new identity. She was said to be struggling with the trauma of the case and the media attention it brought.

In 2013, it was reported that Rosemarie had moved to a care home in Linz, Austria. She was said to be receiving treatment for an unspecified illness and was living under a different name. It is unclear if she has any contact with her surviving children.

Despite her husband’s crimes, some people have expressed sympathy for Rosemarie, noting that she too was a victim of Josef’s abuse and manipulation. Others have criticised her for not doing more to stop her husband’s actions or for being complicit in his crimes.

Overall, Rosemarie’s life after the trial has been shrouded in secrecy, and little is known about her current situation or state of mind.