Capturing Elisabeth

Although Elisabeth was already dealing with unbearable torture at her father’s hands, she could never have known the horrible fate that he had planned for her. On August 29, 1984, Josef was able to trick his daughter into the “dungeon” by requesting for her help to hold open the door to the basement. Once he was done “fixing,” he took a cloth soaked in ether and held it up to her nose and mouth until she passed out. He then dragged her into her new living quarters, raped her and chained her to one of the columns. Thus began the even more torturous life that Liesl was forced to endure for an unthinkable 24 years.

Police Believe She Cried Wolf For The Last Time

Elisabeth’s mom, Rosemarie, began to worry when she had returned home. Rosemarie decided to go to the police and file a missing-persons report. One whole month passed, and Josef claimed that he received a letter from Liesl. The letter, which was dated September 21, 1984, had come from the town of Braunau. Elisabeth wrote in the letter that, “she was tired of living at home and was living safely with a friend.” She continued, “If you look for me, I will leave the country.” Because Liesl had attempted to run away from home before and had sent letters from the exact location prior, both the authorities and her mother didn’t think that the letter was untrue. But this couldn’t be further from the truth, Elisabeth was forced by her own father to write it.