Three girls who were imprisoned by their mother in a house of indescribable filth for seven years may never recover from the ordeal, experts said last night.
The girls were shut away from the outside world, existing in almost complete darkness, playing only with mice and communicating in their own language.
When they were discovered, their home in a smart, upper middle-class suburb had no running water and was filled with waste and excrement a metre high. The floor was corroded by mice urine.
The case has stunned Austria, still reeling from the Natascha Kampusch kidnapping, and the authorities were struggling last night to explain how such a horror story could have gone unnoticed.
The girls’ ordeal was apparently sparked by their parents’ divorce, after which their mother, a 53-year-old lawyer, suffered a breakdown. But she won custody of the girls — then aged 7, 11 and 13 — and withdrew them from school, claiming that she would give them private tuition at home.
Her husband, a local judge in Linz, Upper Austria, named only as Andreas M, was not allowed to see them once, despite his claims for access reaching court nine times.
The girls, Viktoria, Katharina and Elisabeth, were rescued only when police broke into the house after a neighbour, who had reported his suspicions several times, threatened a local council official with a lawsuit.
Although that was in October 2005, and the three have been in a specialised therapy centre since, the scandal was only revealed at the weekend.
The mother is now being held in a special remand prison branch for the mentally unstable. She will appear in court in a few weeks on charges of grievous bodily harm and torture, and is facing between five months and five years in prison.
She had ensured that the blinds were constantly shut, and that all but one light bulb had been removed in the house. When they were released, the three victims had white skin and could not endure exposure to natural light.
Authorities are now under fire for failing to have intervened sooner, despite repeated complaints by neighbours in the well-to-do Poestlingberg.
The mother was said to have been summoned to court nine times during the seven years after complaints by the father and neighbours, but officials never found a reason to investigate the case more closely.
Waltraud Kubelka, a therapist who is now treating the three girls, said that their psycho-social and physical development was “catastrophic”.
“The oldest one is doing very badly and has no prospects of recovery. She was severely undernourished and practically anorexic after her release. The two younger ones will need years to come to terms with their horrific childhood.
“In the first weeks after their release they were hiding under a bench in the kitchen [in the therapy centre] because that was the darkest spot. They could not endure light . . . they had not felt sunlight or fresh air for years.”
It is believed that the children had contact only with their mother during the seven years of captivity and, as a consequence, developed an almost unintelligible language of their own, described as a “singing-like” form of German.
Even after a year of therapy the oldest daughter, Elisabeth, now 21, is said to be so disturbed that she stands only on one foot for long periods staring at the floor. She often bursts into tears.
She and her two sisters also reportedly finish all sentences with the word “but”.
But according to her carers, the youngest of the three, Viktoria, could soon be discharged from therapy to join her father, who now is in constant contact with his daughters.
A council official said that authorities had had no knowledge of the “truly catastrophic” conditions.
The mother’s legal training and knowledge of the law has reportedly enabled her to postpone the trial. The case will he heard in front of a court in Klagenfurt in the next weeks, as both she and her husband are well known in the legal community of Linz.
Natascha Kampusch was held for eight years by Wolf-gang Priklopil, before escaping. Priklopil snatched her on her way to school when she was ten and kept her captive in a subterranean dungeon under his house near Vienna for eight years.
Professor Max Friedrich, a child psychiatrist who treated Ms Kampusch, said that the two cases should not be compared.
“This is entirely different, when the mother herself is the captor. It is tragic that the one person that commands full trust is misguided in that way. I do not envy their therapists.”
what i dont understand is if the father was a respectible known judge; why wasnt the father allowed to see the girls at all.. maybe he was allowed to see them and just didnt. its a shame that this happend to those girls and i wish them beautiful futures if possible.
Taylor, Warren, US
OK so what happened...this was last year? See, this exactly what the problem is. Everyone FORGETS! Where is the phycho now? This should be forever burnt in peoples minds to never ever forget what happens to people, especially CHILDREN!
Kahlua, Wherever, USA
All fathers suffer when it comes to the courts around the world. It should not be labelled as 'Father's Rights' its should be called 'Childrens Rights' to see their father. If these children had the right to see their father on a regular basis, this may not have happened.
dee, dublin, ireland
The father, a respected judge, was more concerned with his reputation than protecting his daughters. His myopic vision of the "world of law" and his self love prevented him from doing what any normal father would have done if the law was as impotent
Christine, Great Falls, USA
This is sad news. There is a lot of confusion in the world today! Some people are living in darkness..
She needs to really get some help and I don't mean medication I mean she needs to learn what it means to be a human being, as she is NOT acting like one.
Death sentence doesn't solve anything, it only promotes death and violence.
Josh, USA, Earth
she needs jesus and the girls need love, care and prayers
Jodelle Raynes, St. John's, Antigua & Barbuda
if she only gets five months then I want to go down there myself!
Knowledge of the law has nothing to do with the heinous crime that woman committed. My God be the only one to look at her with kindness... harsh, eh?
Rick, Champaign, U.S.
The mother should get the death sentence.
Juliana, Sacramento, CA
It must be something wrong with the law in Austria and a very passiv policeforce in Linz. Compare this case with the Natascha Kampuch case. Death sentence never helped any victim to recover from horrofying experiences like this.
Charlotta Gyllheden Sweden, Örebro, Sweden
i think the mother should get life in perison and or get put the death row.but thats what all people that hurt or kill kids or anyone should be in perison for life.
sara, bloomington , indiana
the mother should get the death sentence.
what, you, doing
Is she crazy? For me i will put her in the mental because in that case,for me she is a crazy!!!!!!!!! and their is a tendency that the child will be crazy just like her mother!!!!!
mcam, oz.city, phil.
I think that was terrible what she did. I agree with the District of Columbia. She needs to put in jail for a long time because that was so wrong for what she did. If she was a real woman or mother, she would have not done that to your children. I feel so bad for her kids, but I hope they do better in the future with their lives. I want to tell them something "always keep your head up, never let it go down".
Brittany, rather not say, South Carolina
Absolutely terrible.
If this is what the world is coming to, I will be on the first rocket to the moon that I can get.
Sage, Hobowars, USA
Let's give her 21 years in solitary, with no light or fresh air, no running water or toilet, and only the mice to talk to.
Patrick, Distirct of Columbia,
This story could have happened anywhere. In the U.S., child protective services is so overwhelmed by reports of abuse and neglect that it would certainly be possible for this to happen. I think it also reflects the mentality that people are alone responsible for "their" children, instead of the view in some cultures of a "village" truly raising children together, as a group. I wonder if this could have occurred in a traditional culture where everyone knows the happenings of everyone else.
kate byerwalter, , MI/USA
When the tragic death of Victoria Climbie revealed failings by British and to a much lesser extent French authorities, enquiries were launced and eventually the perpetrators of the crimes against her imprisoned.
In this case, the mother not only deserves far longer than the five months to five years suggested for her abuse of her children but, she also needs to be punished for obstructing the law in order to prolong the harm done to her children. The eldest has no prospects of a normal life, how can a maximum of five years be justice?
Nicola , Liphook, England/Hampshire
I would ask to the court is that court should order hard sentence to that terrible so that mother so that no mother or father would inspire themselves to more play such a terrible game with theirs kids. Because it is a really painfull not only to the victims but also to the whole world.I can't ponder such thing with me for a moment.However, I am personally with everyone thankful to those doctors who are still striving to secure their lifes and make them prepared to go with normal life.Pray to God for quick recovery of them.
Sumon, Dhaka, Bangladesh
It is proven over and over again that the mothers off Children given in custodien cases can go wrong many times.The Father must be given more power to see and have contact with his children to stop the ambuse by the mother to get back at her expartner. The law is very wrong to let the children suffer by looking the other way just to stick to there way off doing it. it is never mine attitude off the governments all over the world.
The litle children are suffering. Love don' t come into it.
Fran Clemenkowff, Townsville N.Qld, Australie
What a terrible story! What puzzles me is that although the mother was summoned to court nine times over the children's welfare, the court did not see fit to ask the mother to present the children. Also, did the mother have no other relatives than her (ex) husband who might have questioned why they never saw their nieces/grandchildren/cousins? Yes, in the UK they are often seen as incompetent and meddling, but does Austria have no social workers (or similar) who might have checked on this situation with possibly even just a curtesy call?
Deborah, London, United Kingdom
awww i dont understand why someone would even think about doing this let alone actually doing it shes soo out of order she should be locked up 4 life!!!!!!!!!!!!!
melissa xx, bristol, england
It is time that father's rights be given greater consideration by the courts and by Chrildren & Family Services or whatever group handles such child abuse reports/complaints in all countries around the world.
In America, children suffer also from the slow actions of the court system and inaction of the criminal justice system. I know by experience with my granddaughters. Nothing was done about the
"sick" mother and the father's complaints went unanswered. Grandparents have more sense and no rights - there is something very wrong with this picture.
Grams, Panama City , FL, USA
http://www.thedailystar.net/2005/07/14/d50714060960.htm
The link above leads to a story or two sisters at Mirpur (suberb of Dhaka, Bangladesh). In this ocassion, the victims are not children, rather highly educated being doctor and engineer; and not by any other sick person, it was done by themselves.But the good thing is, they are quite okay by now, and even doing jobs. The doctors did great job last two years to make this happen. I hope and pray for these 3 sisters from Austria (and their mother as well) will get well someday.
Tareq, Dhaka, Bangldesh
After reading about this horrendous story i am utterly disgusted. Although the mother was in a mentally unstable state, how could she have ensured that the abuse was concealed from the neighbours? Also, how was the mother despite being a lawyer able to avoid hearings if she was was mental. It doesn't quite add up for me. I hope with all the care given to the girls, they will hopefully be able to recover from such an ordeal. The Austrian care system is appalling if such neglect for 7 years went unnoticed. I think it is definately time for legislative reform!!!
Shangeetha, London,
Wow man, thats freakkyy && scaryyyyy =~ =
Such a scary mother/ childhood for those three girls.
I feel that the Earth doesnt need those cruel people like the 3 girls' mother on it. This has made me realize how horrible
Riri, New York, USA
l am a mother l am disgust to think that children should be keep liked dogs we should learn to accept as human being she sould get 25 year not 5 months
mrs b j dyer, milton keynes, england
I don't understand why she doing this .Sounds crizy.I feel so lucky that I had a very good mather.
xielina, WuHan, HuBei
I am very shocked that something like that still happens. Stories like that used to happen ages ago. I wish people can do anything for those girls, i just wish them to have a better future then the past that they lived in.
Ali Saad, Beirut, Lebanon
This is a sad and tragic case, and it seems previous posters have, in their obsession to rant about political correctness and father's rights, forgotten about the three young girls.
I agree that the prospective sentence sounds unduly lenient (presuming the mother is deemed mentally competent to stand trial), but it is not up to this country to dictate to others how their criminal justice system should be run; we as a nation get extremely agitated in general when other countries try to interfere in our judicial system.
I'm also intrigued that Tif in Dublin regards himself as being in the UK!!!!!
TIM, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
I agree 5 months-5 years?
I was shocked when I read that. I mean I know she is mentally unstable and all but she had those kids for along time and had to obviously know right from wrong.
patience, asheville, usa
To Elisabeth Irwin in London (presumably a product of British education): Linz is in A-U-S-T-R-I-A. Zero out of ten for geography and verbal reasoning.
Dave, Notts, UK
How were they not able to leave? Were the doors baracaded? Especially the oldest. Were they beaten?I don't understand why they wouldn't have just tried to leave.
patience, asheville, usa
I hope this doesn't tarnish the general population of home schoolers ? Thank goodness for the vigilant neighbour.
mcewen, San Jose In Jolly Old Californ, USA
Why did the dad not go round and break the door down over those years??
Will , London, UK
Elisabeth Irwin:
It´s Austria, not Germany...
Jane, Derby, England
To correct an earlier comment the case is in Austria not Germany and is therefore covered by Austrian law not German.
It is sad to reflect that these or similar cases continue to be discovered in our much vaunted Free Western Societies and it concerns me that we shake our heads in disbelief until the next case emerges.
Where are we going wrong?
Peter Sheppard, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
I think it's sad that disturbing situations like these don't have to happen, yet they do. I know that in the Netherlands the bureaucracy causes a lot of problems for children's healthcare, and it seems like the same thing happens in Austria, a country that's quite similar to mine in some ways. I don't think it's any use to send the mother to prison. She is obviously mentally instable and should be helped to get healthy. I hope the poor girls will be alright and wil find a way to deal with the horrors they've been through.
Let's not forget that the main function of prison sentence is to resocialise people, so that they can become a well functioning part of society again. At least, that's the main function in most European countries. So prison will not help the mother at all, it'd probably only driver her even madder.
Anne, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
There is no evidence that the mother abused her daughters prior to suffering a breakdown. Therefore it is only fair to deduce her behaviour was as a result of a mental illness which was not being treated; she too is a victim. I find it difficult to understand how the father - being a judge - could not have secured contact/visitation rights. I know nothing of German law so am careful not to take a judgemental stance. However I think this case clearly reveals the law needs revising. Furthermore, is there no Social Services department in Germany??
I am of the view however that society esteems 'mother' and holds her in such high regard that any deviation from that ideology is perceived as perverse. Abuse from female carers differs from males in that it is more likely to take the form of passive aggression, manipulation and bullying. And though this behaviour will be observed by others it will usually not be thought serious enough to trigger intervention, even from family members.
Elisabeth Irwin, London, England
This ia just beyond belief in our 21st century world. How sick and tragic. We have all this technology at our disposal and yet three girls can live in conditions akin to the middle ages , and for so long, without anyone wondering, knowing, or seeming to really care. Did no one ever wonder, after the first year, where the girls were or what they were doing? This is heartrending and depressing.
Elaine Sihera, Maidenhead, United Kingdom
It is deplorable that something like this can happen in any country. If it happened in the developing world this would be paraded as an example of undeveloped societies which are abusive by nature. However, this took place in the politically correct environment of blaze middle class Western Europe, where children of immigrant workers are taken away from their parents if they are spanked on the bottom, and people are fined for hurting animals. The double standards and the hypocrisy of western societies should be truly examined to prevent things like this to happen.
David Ericson, London, United Kingdom
It is simply incredible that the Father of these children was denied access to them for so long, despite nine court appearances.
WAKE UP Austria and others! Fathers have rights too.
Simon , Norwich, UK
It is so sad that things like this still go on around the world, I grew up in an abusive situation and luckily got out of it but those poor girls were helpless to their mother's actions. She may have underlying mental problems but I believe she should be at minium in a metal institution the rest of her life, this woman should not be free for doing all those actions. And everyone should remember that Hindsight is 20/20 most people simply do not want to see the harm until it is forced among them.
Ashling, Menifee, Ca
Sick!!!
hogio, gomola,
I am puzzled as to how such horrors can exist…
Aldo Camara, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
5 months to 5 years???? Is that some sort of joke? Honestly jail sentences have become completely ridiculous.
dpf, charlottesville, USA
I think the rights of fathers to have fair access, is constantly ignored and shoved away. I was myself abused by my mother and subsequent foster homes and boarding schools and in all of my entire younger life i was allowed to see my father for about 4 hours. Now being a adult i find my father to be a kind and gentle soul and wish i had had the chance to have known him better when i was younger. I'm still angry at the system which constantly rejects the appeals of fathers and blindly gives the mother full rights and assumes that this is good for the children. I can tell you from personal experience that pain and torture can be deliverd by the parent who is assumed to be the loving soul . This kind of case doesn't surprise me , it probably happens a lot more but people just don't believe it could happen. i was under care from Lambeth social services from 1962 - 1979 and they never believed anything that went on ,in fact we were constantly labled as trouble makers for complaining of severe treatment.
g.l.g, london,
Another case of political correctness. Here in the UK there is nothing to be proud of ,as for the same reason how many Muslim children are condemned to female circumcision, forced marriages and "honour killings"?
Tif, Dublin, Eire
Of course there is always a good reason when mom does it. Next we will hear that the father was an abuser......
Joe McCullough, Pottstown , USA
How is it possible that the father had no access rights at all. That was the first act of cruelty.
David, London,
In my view to blame the mother,who is ill,is blaming one of the victims! No, without doubt, the blame should be directed at the "system",if they were even half competent this couldn't have happened. (I bet "joe" is a Dubya voter and probably thinks 199 year jail terms are sensible!) and Thomas, I will read whatever I wish.To imply readership of a particular newspaper is a qualifyer for rational thought is a little opinionated to say the least. The father has also to look at his role, not much of an advert for his "judgement" is it?
Colin, Cebu, Philippines
What kind of family court, would not do a home study when there is a custody dispute? All of this misery could have been avoided as well when a report of abuse is received, the situation should have been investigated by the child welfare authorities; specifically, contact made with the children and their welfare monitored.
asia eichmiller, santa barbara, ca
reading such horrors , i can't believe how some people are living, thinking !!!are they really aware about the danger children are facing in this world; ....some of them are dying because of wars , others are the victims of other kinds of monstruosity but i can' t imagine a mother able to do this to her own children....i just ask myself, where were the friends , the other members of the family ? Don't they have grand-mother , a grand-father , aunts, oncles....?
thanks to GOD , the authorities stopped this tragedy , but unfortunatly , its just one of the thousands tragedies , children of the world are living everyday.
sabrina, skikda, algeria
ok, this is just sad..... dosent the mom have to get a licnense or something to home school? and if not, that should be a new law.
Peter, arlingon,
Once again it shows the absolute incompetence of the authorities responsible and this occurs not only in Austria.
The British social departments have on many many occasions shown how utterly useless they are, and the Austrians probably roll out the same old whine about not having enough resources.
Phil Evans, Newport, England
Maureen needs to get away from criticizing "homeschooling" in any way. These girls and apparently Maureen herself had wacko parents and that's that! Their extended family, friends and neighbors completely failed all of them and that is also tragic. The private and public school children and their parents that I see who are have extremely worrisome problems, abuses, perversions and criminal behaviors--let alone "low academic attainment"-- seem to be a massively greater percentage of the population than the few homeschoolers who the media can find to make a big deal of... and all the minions of the teachers union in the US--the evil, money hungry, moral standard undermining NEA.
Terri, Missouri, USA
There are two tragedies here. One that a mentally ill woman could incarcerate her children despite the suspicions of neighbours. Two that a father was consistently denied his legal and moral right to see his children. Had his rights have been enforced this tragedy could not have occurred.
Paul Hodgkiss, Weston,
First i would like to say that I am appaled that for years this went unnoticed; how do professionals like police or child welfare ignore neighborhood phone calls regarding the welfare of a child not once but a signicant amount of times? Where is the family of this women and her children? How can somone have a nervouse breakdown and still have custody of children. I live in NYC and every day you hear on the news how children are abused and/or killed by their parents, When is this world going to wake up? I am a women that has no children but have children in my family that i would die for and hurt anyone who lays a single finger on them or treat in any unstable way. I put sole blame on the system for the years of abuse that these girls encountered and they are the ones who should be punished along with the usless waste of a life that they called mother.
Correen, NYC, NY
Well, Hitler was born in Austria too to an abusive father and so was Schwarzenegger. Sounds like Austria is a really messed up and brutal place. At least Arnold got past it...
B.B. Shoo, Palos Verdes Estates, CA, USA
It's sad that they make it sound like the oldest girl is a lost cause. She needs help & support. Of course she's going to fall to tears at times, she was the oldest one there and she Will take the brunt of that... Keep the three of them together, that's all they've known for years - it's probably the only thing they really 'trust' and get them away from an institute...
Institutes and isolation make people crazy.
Rob, Brampton, Canada
One other thing....the article says the mother avoided being found out by claiming she would home school her daughters. The rules for this need to be changed. While parents must retain the right to educate their children at home, safeguards must be built into the oversight of home schooled children to determine not only their educational progress, but also if they are safe and being properly cared for.
Had such safeguards been in place, that mother could not have kept her children in such conditions without someone finding out much sooner, and perhaps saving those girls from the nightmare they were living in.
Simple changes, like a home visit every 6 months, required health screenings, and mandatory activities where the children can socially interact with other kids (sports, crafts, clubs, etc) could help ensure that such barbaric cases of abuse are not missed simply because the parent claims to be home-schooling their child.
Maureen, Staten Island, NY, USA
I agree with Jason in Brisbane. At a minimum, this mother should be incarcerated for five years per child. She should be fed enough just to keep her alive and never see the light of day during that time. Even that would not be enough.
P.S. If a Judge in Austria could not gain access to his children after nine court appearances, the Austrian judicial system needs a revamping.
Melanie, Conyers, GA
In the legal system of the UK this scenario can just as easily happen. In a custody case the mother is almost certain to gain access and if she does not want the father to see the children she can deny him very easily. If the father goes to court and the mother does not appear or does not follow the courts order then she will get away with it. Sentencing the mother for contempt of court is seen as punishing the child so is rarely applied. If the father does anything unlawfull like forcing his way to see the children then he will be arrested and this will be seen as a reason to deny access in the future, it is a no win situation for fathers.
Whenever a family splits up there is usually a lot of anger and the children are used as a way of punishing the other party, it is the courts responsibility to ensure that both parents behave in an adult manner and the children are protected. Sadly the courts shy clear of actually enforcing thier own decisions.
Joseph Kellie, edinburgh,
I feel sorry for the girls, they are like feral children, but I also feel sorry for the mom - something is not right that she would do such a thing. In her own mental collapse she just was unable to resolve what she was doing. The mind is a mysterious thing, and who knows how it can get so subverted. It seems odd that the older girl couldn't have saved more of herself; clearly there must have been some kind of accompanying abuse. This seems like a quasi criminal case; Mommy should be incarcerated for quite some time over this. I'm also curious why this is only surfacing now. Typically when government is keeping secrets it is to protect itself. More should come out about its part in this debacle. And finally, is there some kind of environment that promotes human drama in the Germanic culture?
Elizabeth, Seattle, WA
I apologies but i do not agree with giving some one a life sentence but years of pyscological profiling so that it could help us understand what her train of thought was each day she was awake during those years.
I am at the age in which the oldest girl is today and would like to know what the government intend for the girl? In my university I have met a lot of people with different pasts some with horror stories i couldnt of imagined and I think (blanking out the issue of the effect on the enivronment on her skin) they should bring her to our university we would welcome her with open arms.
abs , london,
As someone who survived a similar (but thankfully, not as extreme) situation with my own mother, this story hits home. In one sense, it's totally devastating to think of what these girls went through, and in another, it forces me to be thankful that I was lucky enough to have not been treated that badly.
My mother was, and is, mentally ill. I'm not sure what the clinical diagnosis would be for someone who can be so completely paranoid, self-absorbed, and cruelly abusive. I was lucky that my absences from school triggered a court investigation, and eventually led to my being placed in foster care. In my case, there was no father to worry about me or seek visitation.
The community almost always fails to act, fearing that they are overreacting. Our neighbors heard the screams, and sometimes even called the cops. But even the cops never thought finding a child up at 3am, with smelly clothes and unwashed hair, was reason enough to call in child welfare or remove me from the home.
Maureen, Staten Island, NY, USA
This is very sad. How come the friends of these girls didn't wonder where they disappeared? If I was the father, and didn't see my children for say two years, and the mother would keep coming up with made-up reasons, I would go ask all the girls' friends if they had seen my children recently. I'd go to all the high schools in the area and check if the oldest girl is enrolled anywhere... she should have been by that time. I'd check if anybody had seen then. Go to their dance teacher, tennis coach, music teacher, or whatever other activity they were involved with before. If nobody had seen them, I'd grow very suspicuous if they are still even alive. I'd report suspicion of foul play to police and to the court. If nothing happened, I would hire a private detective to follow my ex-wife. I'd go talk to all the neighbors of that house. I'd take vacation and park my car in front of that bulding and just watch it for days. Eventually, I would break into the house. Doesn't matter that I am the judge. You have to fight for your own children.
Nicholas, Pittsburgh, USA
This is an extremely sad story....one can only hope that the girls will manage over time.
Where was the neighbourhood community? And why over such a long period of time?
The mother had a nervous breakdown and no one spotted the difference, it is hard living with someone who has had a mental breakdown. And kids suffer the most. In this case being a lawyer and knowing what the loopholes were has made her manipulative.
I don't think the law will ever resolve cases of custody and all too often miss the signs. Why did the court not allow the father access in the first case...was he violent, a drunk or anything else that would have put the children at risk?
There are far too many questions to be answered in this case.
Tina, Kent, uk
Owen. How can you possibly blame the state in place of the mother for this? You should be reading the Guardian, not the Times.
Thomas, Nimes, France
no offense, but the mother is ONLY facing between 5 MONTHS AND 5 YEARS in prison?? she held her daughters for 7 years...the MINIMUM sentence should be 7 years PER CHILD for a total of AT LEAST 21 years!! who decides this stuff?? those authorities need to be scolded!
joe, boston, usa/ma
5 months to 5 years will be the mom's punishment range for this?
My heart breaks. These children will suffer for the rest of their lives and she walks away after 5 years?!?
Please let the best doctors help these girls and I pray that their resolve is stronger than they believe and that they will find some form of a future.
Millions of people who want children and this PoS was blessed with three that she never deserved. I pray that she is dealt three-fold in return.
Angel, Santa Ana,
I'm devastated, this is incomprehesible, my thoughts and prayers are with the 3 girls. Austria should be ashamed their father must be ashamed, the mother deserves every punishment the god almighty doles out to her, for she surely will be punished.
Why this only made page 9 is beyond me....
Julie Pullen, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
Why did the court not order welfare reports? Why was there no Social worker(s) involved? Why was this mother allowed care and control of her children? Why was the father not allowed contact with his children in the first place? Why were both parents not given equal rights to their children? The court would not simply take a father away from his children without good cause. There is obviously more to the story than what has been reported.
Carol, Jersey, UK,
Another example of the law making a blunder in awarding the wrong parent custody. The father had to go to court nine times and even then the matter failed to be resolved. There are definate lessons to be learnt - with legal changes that need to protect a father's right to access. It's horrifying to see what people can get away with not to mention the long term damaging effects that follow.
N.Begum, London, UK
I think this mother is a beast like to do such thing to her children, what in the world she was thinking of to exile her three children away of the real world.
The judge was not fair with her enough, I mean think about it this way all of the three was 7, 11 and 13 and she was what 53 years old, the judge have to give her 53 - 10(avg. age of the three girls) = 43 years of prison in a dark room.
Amr A., Alexandria, Egypt
Why didn't the father go there and kick down the door. I'm not trying to lay blame on the father, however after a few months of not being allowed to see his children why wouldn't he go to them?!?! This just doesn't add up to me, he went through enough to appear in court 9 times without the mother showing up. When she didn't show the second time why didn't he go to the home. I'll hear nothing of custody rights or jail time, all are worth the risk to know the well being of our children....shame on him and the officials, shame shame shame!!!!
Dana, Charlestown, IN
What ever happen to punishment fitting the crime? Our society is so full of humanitarian rights for criminals that we have forgotten all about the victims. I feel the only way the punishment can fit the crime is when
the victim becomes whole again and can return to life in the same condition before the crime was committed , then and only then should the criminal be let out of jail.
So if these precious girls (who did not deserve this) can not become whole again, their mother should go to prison and never be let out!!!!!!!!!
The argument that she has a mental disorder is only an excuse. Anyone who commits this type of crime has a mental disorder, they still don’t deserve better treatment then their victims.
Sherry, Little Rock, AR
Who he needs a Dad, eh? Time for a rethink.
Babu Mukherjee, glasgow, uk
The mother was obviously suffering from a mental health disorder, i feel nothing but rage towards the authorities what are they paid for?
We have had similar experiences here too so its becoming a problem in our so called modern society
Owen , London, UK
It saddens me to read about such a cruel and inhumane act. I don't think I will ever understand how any creature, especially something resembling a human, can be so selfish and ignorant to the needs of others - especially their own flesh and blood. As for justice, where is it? These girls didn't just endure 7 years of incarceration. They will most likely have a life sentence attached to this, haunting them for the rest of their lives. Five months to five years is hardly justifiable by any means.
Jason, Brisbane,
If the mother is guilty then life (meaning life) in prison is the only fit sentence and I would make it solitary confinement - wherein she can dwelve on what an evil person she really is.
Mikko Takala, Drumnadochit, Inverness-shire, Scotland
I'm sorry to bring up an angle here, but the oldest child was 13 when they were shut away. I'm aware of the Stockholm Syndrome, but I have a hard time picturing myself in that same situation at that age accepting the status quo. I'm pretty sure that if my mother had done that to me I would have bashed her over the head at some point and then stepped over her still body to walk out the door. I'm wondering if the oldest child was already mentally challenged and/or emotionally abused before this situation. And if not, we need some more research on the Stockholm Syndrome to figure out why people are so vulnerable to this.
sylvia, atlanta, USA
Those children suffer for 7 years and will probably never recover, and the monster responsible gets punished with a pitiful 5 years in prison? Is that it?
Sarah, London, UK
To KS, Austin, TX the father didn't allow this to happen he took his ex-wife to court 9 times over access. What did you expect him to do? Break into the mothers house? If the court denies a parent access to their children all they can do his keep trying to gain access through the courts, which is what he did. The courts are to blame for not seeing the children as part of the nine court appearances.
Emma, Cambridge, UK,
Sadness doesn't even begin to express my feelings. Anger is too gentle a term. Disgust is about as close as i can come.
The sentence should be (min) 7 years per count in the home she kept the children in.
As far as being "shadows of themselves" goes I do not believe that. Their former selves no longer exist, effectively murdered by their own mother. They will never be back.
How is it that the community missed this? Did their friends not wonder what happened to them? Did the schools not wonder why they stopped attending? Why did law enforcement not look into the complaints? Society as a whole has to take a hit on this one.
Now I feel shame too.
A Father, Champaign, IL
No one to blame but the system that prevents a parent from contacting his/her children - provided that that parent is a straight stable person. I believe that such a law is not humane, even animals get mad if you take their babies away from them.
Children should not be divided among the divorced parents as if they were some kind of personal belongings as a house, a firm or whatever.
And that mother, the famous lawyer, should be publicly punished for such crime. No law, religion or traditions accept what she did.
Mohammad, Alexandria, Egypt
The world is full of people with mental health problems, unfortuneatly most of them seem to be in positions of power.
S Mackie, LONDON, ENGLAND
5 months to 5 years is not enough time for a person to pay for this crime. Mentally disturbed or not, this woman used her legal saavy and status to keep this inhuman torture a secret for seven years. Solitary or limited confinement is a horrifying thing with utterly devastating effects on the psyche over very brief periods of time. A matter of a few days to a week or two can easily have you hallucinating. By the second week you'll be lucky to completely recover your social abilities if released immediately. After a year or two, your social abilities are not only deteriorated, they're utterly gone. Seven years would make you almost utterly inhuman in body and mind. That's the extent of the damage this woman, this pathetic excuse for a mother, did to her babies. Seven years is a long time to think about one's actions, but perhaps she didn't have enough time to realize what she did. I say, let her think about them for the rest of her life in a prison - perhaps in solitary confinement.
Nathan Shulias, Des Moine, Iowa
It looks like the mom was getting revenge on the father after their divorce. I sincerely hope the girls recover! What their mom did sounds deliberate and cruel.
Khadija, Greenville, SC
I wonder if there were other members of the family? Cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents. Did no-one miss the children?
PS, Greece,
I agree with David, I think it's horrendous in many cases when the father is completely cut out of the picture, even if he is a decent, capable, gainfully employed human being. I think that this woman should never be allowed near these poor girls again! And the poor father - he finally gets to see his children, but they are shadows of themselves.
Vanessa, Leigh,
if the children endured 7 years of this, then the mother should endure 7 years in prison - and not "5months-5years". If an individual feels unable to cope with having children, they should give them up for adoption or ask social services for assistance or seek therapy etc. etc. etc. and not lock them up alone in their own waste!
Marco, bhm, uk
The courts are to blame once again with their stupidity. Denying all access of the father to the children removed an important safety net in ensuring the children were not abused by the mother. I assume they did this becuase they perceived a serious risk from the father, if so surely they would have also assessed the mothers mental health as well ?
david, abu dhabi, uae
No, Erica Selfridge, the condition of the mother is not equally heartbreaking. She took murderous revenge on her children for her own loss. The children had no choice over their isolation and incarceration, and it is they, not the mother, who should be seen as the victims. While mentally ill people may experience free will in a different way from those who are of sound mind, choice is disconcertingly present in the disturbed and malevolent behaviour in this latest case. The mother showed a high degree of cunning in the way in which she managed to remove her children from school and in which she successfully postponed the court cases.
Felicity, Oxford, UK
If reports are to be believed then surely the authorities must be held equally to blame - how is it that they failed to react to the growing number of complaints from neighbours? Why is it that it wasn't until a councillor was threatened with a lawsuit that the authorities reacted. It would appear that the poor mother is mentally ill, but what excuse can the powers who supposedly protect the young give?
CEP, Nice, France
Typical stuff here. Since women are believed to be "more nurturing" than those "big, bad men", they automatically remanded custody to the female without question. They probably never once questioned HER fitness for parental duties, and look at where it got them! This story may have had a different ending had the "rules" been administed in a non-biased, non-sexist manner.
But what do I know - I'm just some chauvinist pig.
James Lee, West Columbia, USA
I'm stunned. I could not believe that a mother could do that to her own children.. I believe that every parent has their way(s) of disciplining their children, but in this case the mother should not be released nor her treatment sessions should end soon. She definitely needs help too.. Unthinkable, no words could describe the trauma and effects to her children..
Beatriz De Vera, Ma,
There is no denying this is a horrific case of child abuse, and whilst reading it i was filled with anger and sympathy for the 3 girls involved. However, from my studies of psychology and childhood studies i am well aware that, unfortunately, this is not an isolated case.
Each time something like this occurs there is outrage (and quite rightly so), however after a few weeks; once the press interest has died down, how many people will remember these children? I would guess not many unless somebody is already making the TV movie.
Does anybody remember the story of the young girl 'Genie'? Striking similarities; although it occured in 1970's America-which Becky may be interested to know.
Laura, London, England
The condition of the mother is equally heartbreaking. Mental illness is nothing to sweep under the rug and write off as a character flaw. It is a true sickness, one that causes the sufferer undeniable pain and damage. I am shocked not only at the treatment of the girls, but at the lack of support the mother had prior, during and after her breakdown.
Erica Selfridge, Seattle, U.S., WA
Is this not pathetic that these young ladies suffered so much because of the indifference of their government in responding to their needs and the complaints of neighbors.
How blind and uncaring are they not to be able to see that the mother has emotional and mental problems.
How sick to let this happen.
Anita, Boca Raton,
Ones has to wonder why the father allowed this to happen.
How could he stand idle to the destruction of his daughters?
KS, Austin, TX
Truly disturbing. My heart goes out to those little girls.
Evan, Louisville, KY
This is absolutely the worst thing that a mother could do. There are really some very sick people in this world. The whole ordeal is going to have a lasting effect on these girls for life. The Mother should spend the rest of her life institutionalized as far as I am concerned.
Coral Brown, Rockland, maine
I am skeptical as to how diminished the mother's mental capacities were, for she still had a strong enough grasp of the law to postpone her trial. She is clearly deranged and sick, but her sentence should not be lightened due to mental illness.
Sherrie, Palo Alto, CA
Get real. You can't blame the authorities for someone's mental health.
All over the world children face difficulties because authorities give the benefit of doubt of competence to the parent assigned custody (usually the mother). If the mother was assigned custody following the separation, then either she lied and tricked the authorities or there was significant evidence to assure them of her confidence. The big problem the authorities face is that their procedures usually don't allow them any leeway with dishonesty, whether borne by personal interest or mental illness.
This doesn't take anything away from the fact that these children faced enormous abuse that will take a long time to heal. My heart goes out to them and others in their situation
Simon Gotlieb, Wellington, New Zealand
This case is incredible, I don't know why don't parents love their own children. I think the mother of those girls should be severaly punished, jail could not be enough!! Is the only thing police can do because I consider that the problem is not the austrian police because they can not know how do all people live.
Sonia, Mexico City, Mexico
Just what are we paying social workers for? I know they have a difficult job... but they seem totally not equipped to do it..
Howard, Milton keynes, UK
It's ridiculous that she doesn't get life in prison. Not only that, but she should be held in solitary comfinement with little or no light, food, and human interaction. This is truly terrible that she tormented those kids for that long without someone discovering what she was doing.
Matt W, NC, USA
Thank you neighbor ! What 's happening in this world ?The laws
have to change on abuse to children, and our elderly. Lock these
people up and thow away the key. Being a tax payer I wouldn't
mind paying for these sicko's the rest of their lives in prison. At
least they wouldn't be in our neighborhoods. Where was this womans family ? I know nobody in family knew this was happening. I don't know how I feel more angry or sad. This kind of
case relly troubles me !
Linda, Bay City, Mi, USA
That is purely demonic. That woman should be sentenced to spend the rest of her life in the exact same condtions she forced those girls (I will not call them daughters, as this would insinuate she should be considered in any way a mother) to live in. Unbelievable.
Jim, minneapolis, mn
As a father of 4 girls I can't imagine how a parent could do this!
I say put her in jail, general population!
Let the other inmates sort her out!
Darren Manley, Winnipeg, Canada
The mother is obviously mentally ill and five years is too short a time for her to be punished. But the Child Welfare system should be punished as well for having had so many complaints and never once visiting the home. Stupid fools!
Jane, Jersey City,
Bernardine, please do not make this story into a vehicle for your religious beliefs. The "devil" did not have any part of this, it was the result of an awful person who must face the consequences.
PD Kim, MA,
It's sad that the austrian gov't is so narrow minded as to not let a father see his three daughters for a decade.. What on earth kind of reasoning is that.. He was a judge after all not charles manson.. Turns out the mom was the real charlie manson.. This is another clear case of bias against men... When the father was demonized by the court it gave the mother the chance to become a real demon.. Unless a parent is a threat to thier child, both parents should be allowed visitation to some degree not toal isolation.. This also exposes how the system can be manipulated by lawyers and the wool pulled over the courts eyes..
Josh , nevada city, cA
And what of the officials who denied the father visitation rights and refused to investigate the girls' living conditions until the neighbor threatened to sue. (Where were social services?)
Everyone will deny culpability, of course, but clearly the officials were negligent in protecting the victims. I thought we all, and especially Austria, learned that lesson in World War II?
I hope the father sues the town out of existence, after he deals with the more pressing matter of his children's welfare.
Shocked, Dismayed,
there are many questions bugging me regarding this report. how did the mother fed her daughters? what did they eat? how did they survive? what about diseases? seven years is too long without anybody noticing things such as the stink, and the meter high excrements would've been already a breeding ground for diseases. since they have no running water, what did they drink?
although, the answers to my questions may be gross or distasteful to the general public, i think it would be better if the report is detailed. so we can judge whether or not, the mother at the least, still had a bit of humanity left in her.
let us not be too rash and jump to conclusions, thats all.
welschter, tristan da cunha, tristan da cunha
Anyone who can harm their own child is unable to function normally and should be committed to a mental institution. As a parent, I would die to protect my child. It is unbelievable to me that people exist who would not do the same without thought.
I am also an American born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma and I live in Europe. I think the America vs. Europe comments are a bit out-of-place here Becky. They are completely off-topic. Also FYI, violent crime is higher in any US city than in any city in Austria. You should check your statistics before you make obtuse statements like that.
John Chronister, Prague, Czech Republic
What a Horible mum!
Isabella, Surrey, England
i can't bare to describe what i feel for these girls.. no one should go through that.. no one!
Darryl Ocampo, San Jose, Ca
"Europena social system seems to be working really well. And only 5 years max.....seems to little for ruing the lives of 3 girls. But, then America is so backward and Europe so progressive....
Becky, Phoenix, , USA"
--------------------------------
Well, Becky, I don't know if you quite picked up but, Europe would be the ones who are backward, as this occurred in Austria.
Justin , Ohio, USA
Amazing opportunity for a psychological case study though.
It is a great tragedy that someone would have to go through this, but even tragedy has its benefits. This kind of psychology may be a morbid fascination of mine, but the more we understand these kind of horrible behaviors, the more we can work to prevent them.
Heidi, Orlando, FL
Someone wrote (twice)
"I pray that everyone who reads this article will pray:
Please God, bring complete and total healing to Viktoria, Katharina and Elisabeth."
So where was this "God" for the last seven years? He ignored the kids because we didn't tell him about them? Is this "God" character so mean that he even now won't help these three damaged children unless we beg him to?
Instead of praying, why not use your energy to actually go out and help some kids rather than sitting at home and pretending you're actually having some sort of effect?
Tom Ritchford, New York, NY
I pray the girls recover after much love and therapy. The "mother" should be put in jail for the rest of her natural life. A sincere "thank you" to the neighbor.
Anne Ferry, Oro Valley, Arizona
I am sorry for all 4 women - yes, four. This is a story which reveals uncompromisingly to what extent the Law can be an ass. If the mother had a break-down when tshe was given custody of the children, why was there no social worker to help her? If it was the break-up of her marriage that caused the mother enough pain to harm her mind to such an extent, she might have thought she was sheltering her girls from pain like hers, and I, who suffer from depression, know that cleanliness does not top the list when you are scared of everything around you. I think only the authorities should be blamed - for ignoring the reports they were receiving. All over the world, women are killing their own children and going mad. I believe I know why, but compassion, mercy and empathy are disappearing from society.
maria grech ganado, madliena, malta
Heartbreaking story. Clearly the courts, and local public officials are to blame for their callous inaction, turning a deaf ear to numerous pleas for help. The girls father a judge himself, powerless. To think a neighbor had to threaten a lawsuit on a public official demonstrates their lack of concern! What chance does the average citizen have to be heard? The suffering for these girls continues. This story, begs for further action. Begin by dismissing every man and/or woman who ignored the pleas for help. Unless there is some sort of physical or mental abuse, why should a father be deprived of interacting with his own children? A fathers love is a necessary ingredient when raising well adjusted daughters. Am wondering how many other children are at risk in this city?
Marilyn G., Beverly Hills, USA/CA
The mother should be locked away in solitary for seven years like she locked her daughters. IMO, treat this as you would some guy taking three young girls and locking them away for seven years. If anything the fact that she was their mother should make it that much worse.
I also think it's strange that the father (as far as I know from the article) only made a legal battle to find his children. Seems like if he had tried to find them against her will, this could have been stopped a long time ago. It's not like she could have called the cops when he showed up at the house unannounced.
This is a failure of the system.
matt, San Francisco, California, USA
Ha, and WE AMERICANS are the barbarians, the primitive ones. Wow, talk about sicko. 5 years ONLY? She deserves life in prison.
Chris, Destin, Florida
On this the Day of the Sick, I pray that Our Lady of Lourdes, who said that she is the Immaculate Conception, will cure these 3 girls whose childhood was replaced with torture by a mother who obviously hated them. FIve Months to five years is not enough for this mother. Her punishment should be in portion to the harm she did. She should be kept away from the public to recover and reflect on the harm she did.
frances marie, NYC,
I think she should hafta do a belly flop into that meter high pile of excrement!
hal Smith, Yorktown, VA
I pray that these girls may soon be ok.What a tragedy! And may God bless that neighbor who repeatedly pushed the authorities to investigate.
Glenn, Connecticut,
How easy it is to form an opinion after reading a few paragraphs. The factor that is not presented in this article is that the devil has had his 7 years with this family. As a child I remember hearing that there will be a time when children will turn against their parents and parents against their children. The thought disturbed me, but I think the time has come. And it's time to give the devil his due. They are all victims. Prayer is the only solution.
Bernardine DeFrancesco, Wilkes-Barre, PA/USA
"I pray that everyone who reads this article will pray:
Please God, bring complete and total healing to Viktoria, Katharina and Elisabeth. Bless them and totally renew them with the most incredible care, and we claim Isaiah 61:1-3 for them also. Amen.
(Thank you for praying).
Lisa, San Diego, CA"
That is a nice sentiment but would it not have been better to prevent this completely preventable disaster?
Truth be told those poor girls are receiving care developed using science and it is offensive and insulting to all the science and medical professionals who will help these girls that people will try to credit any improvement in their lives to god when it is through the hard work and care of humans.
A small tragedy to go with this very big one.
Puskara, Blargsville, Uganda
Becky, regardless of how our social system stacks up, it's clear that our educational system has failed you.
Andres, Seattle, WA, USA
Wow- anytime children suffer like that at the hands of the mother that mother should never be free again. It means she is lacking what makes her human and she should be caged the rest the rest of her life. I also agree that is why both parents shoudl have equal visitaion to children. Hopefully than if somehting is wrong the more stable parent can have soemthing done to make sure the children are safe.God help those girls.
Cassy, Las Vegas, NV, USA
I agree, this case just gave me the chills. I can't believe the punishment is so low for inflicting torture and irreversible physic and mental damage to your own children.
migsho, Mexico City, Mexico
What's wrong with this country? It makes me sick, do they don't have police or are too reluctant do something? Fine, we all in Europe respect citizens' rights but think that Austrian politicians missed some lectures at the uni (if they had any) and don't understand the concept. People who are responsible for that case should resign. As for me Austrian society just ridiculed itself. Maybe they should make some amendments to syllabus that young Austrians will remember that they are part of Europe which means that they have to obey certain rules, such as those defined in European Convention on Human Rights.
Konrad, Orebro - Aberdeen, Sweden - Scotland
I believe this woman should spend the next 10 years of her life in a small dark cell which is never cleaned and should be fed with a minum amount of food. Just enough for her to survive.
Jim Hise, Booneville, Ar.
This story is beyond reprehensible and constitutes a gross mismanagement of the legal system . The sysytem that should have served to protect these innocent children. These childrens' lives were taken away from them by the very person who had given them life. The Father must now live with the knowledge that although he tried to save the children, no one cared enough to listen to him. Thank goodness for the insistent neighbors or the girls would still be living in horrific conditions.
I AGREE : Five months to five years seems ridiculously lenient for such a heinous crime. While the Mother did not kill these girls , per se, she did in effect, slay their ability to ever have a normal and productive life. This is so terribly sad.
Cyn Duncan, Atlanta, Georgia USA
I pray that everyone who reads this article will pray:
Please God, bring complete and total healing to Viktoria, Katharina and Elisabeth. Bless them and totally renew them with the most incredible care, and we claim Isaiah 61:1-3 for them also. Amen.
(Thank you for praying).
Lisa, San Diego, CA
This mother is sick beyond all belief. She should be put away for the rest of her life so that she does not do anymore harm to anyone. Anyone that does this knows exactly what they are doing and should not be considered a mental case. She knew exactly what she was doing!! These poor children will never have a life because of her, therefore she should not have a life! I pray to God that there is some miracle recovery for these girls so that they can be reunited with their father and live a happy life.
Liz Poulter, Sand Springs, OK, USA
I don't know....if the mom is well enough to rangle her trial date, she seems ok to me. Think she also knows that her sentence will be lighter if she claims insanity.
Europena social system seems to be working really well. And only 5 years max.....seems to little for ruing the lives of 3 girls. But, then America is so backward and Europe so progressive....
Becky, Phoenix, , USA
I hope and pray for these girls and eventual recovery. Someone needs to reward the neighbor that pushed this investigation...
John, Payson, Arizona
Another reason why fathers should have visitation rights, with few exceptions.
But the mother gets only 5 MOS up to 5 yrs for holding them for 7?
She should at least serve as long as she made them serve! And 5 MOS for turning your children into animals is outrageous!
Justa Thought, Evansville, USA/IN
What is also horrific & disturbing is the brutal fact that much of the material in vogue at present on dvd and at the cinema is exactly this sort of fare.
Humans can reach great heights in many creative positive spheres but equally our pathologies have plunged some people into living hells and deaths.
Also horrific & disturbing is the fact that authorities never had an inkling for so many years to what was happening
Roko, Auckland, New Zealand