Fritzl case

 Rosemarie submitted a missing person report following the disappearance of Elisabeth disappeared. Fritzl sent an email to the police nearly one month later. It was the first of the many letters he written during the time Elisabeth was in prison. Braunau wrote the letter. The letter stated that Fritzl was tired of being a part of her family. She was living with a relative. He advised her parents not to search for her and warned her to leave the country. Fritzl said she was probably an occult member. The cult member visited Elisabeth frequently, and at least 3 times a week in the secret chamber with food and raped her. Elisabeth had seven children during her time in the prison. One child passed away shortly after birth, and three children -Monika, Lisa, and Alexanderwere removed from the chamber to reside with Fritzl and his wife and were accepted by the local social service authority as their foster parents. Officials said that Fritzl had "very plausible" told them that his three newborn grandchildren showed up at his front door. Social staff visited the family frequently but didn't see or hear anything that could cause suspicion. Fritzl then allowed the expanding of the prison from 35m2 to 55m2 (380-570 sq feet) in 1994. Elisabeth and her three children were forced to dig the soil by hand for several years. The prisoner was equipped with a television as well as a radio, and videocassettes. Food could be stored in a refrigerator and cook it over hot plates, or cook it. Elisabeth taught kids to write and read. Fritzl was known to punish the family by shutting off the lights and refusing to provide food for a few days. Fritzl warned Elisabeth, Felix, and the remaining three children (Kerstin and Stefan) with gassing should they attempt to escape. The threat was not real and was designed to make the victims fearful. There was no gas in the basement. The suspect threatened to kill the victims if they tried to disrupt the doorway to the cellar.