Wolfgang Priklopil
| Wolfgang Priklopil | |
|---|---|
 Passport photograph of Priklopil |
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| Born | May 14, 1962 Hainburg an der Donau, Austria |
| Died | August 23, 2006 (aged 44) Vienna, Austria |
| Cause | Suicide by jumping in front of train |
| Occupation | Telecommunications technician |
| Parents | Karl and Waltraud Prikopil |
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Wolfgang Priklopil (May 14, 1962 in Hainburg an der Donau – August 23, 2006 in Vienna) was an Austrian communications technician. In 1998, he kidnapped 10-year-old Natascha Kampusch and held her for eight years, committing suicide after she escaped.
Priklopil was born to Karl and Waltraud Priklopil, in Hainburg, an only child. Karl was a cognac salesman and Waltraud a shoe saleswoman.[1] Priklopil worked for a time at Siemens as a communications technician.
Priklopil kidnapped Kampusch on the morning of March 2, 1998 as she was on her way to school, eventually keeping her in a custom built basement (sometimes referred to as a "dungeon" in news reports) under his house in Strasshof, Lower Austria. The house was built by Priklopil's grandfather, Oskar Priklopil, after World War II.[1] During the Cold War period, Oskar and his son Karl built a bomb shelter, thought to be the origin of Kampusch's dungeon. Priklopil took over the house in 1984 following his grandmother's death.
Kampusch escaped on August 23, 2006. After a police chase, from which he escaped, Priklopil committed suicide by stepping in front of a moving train near the Vienna Northern Station.[2][3]
Priklopil appeared to have relied exclusively on a Commodore 64 as his computer, which is complicating the recovery of evidence due to its obsolescence in modern times.[4]
He was buried under the name "Karl Wendelberger" on September 8, 2006 in the Piplitz family grave plot in the town of Laxenburg, south of Vienna.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Foster, Patrick. "The silence of the lamb". Guardian (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2099-2483706_2,00.html. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
- ^ Katie, Duke (2006-08-27). "'Respect my privacy' says kidnap victim". Guardian Unlimited (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/austria/article/0,,1859303,00.html. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
- ^ Strohecker, Karin (24 August 2006). "Austrian girl's suspected kidnapper kills himself". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/24/AR2006082400174.html. Retrieved 2006-08-25.[dead link]
- ^ Oliver, Mark (September 5, 2006). "Kidnapper's retro computer offers scant clues". London: Guardian Unlimited. http://www.guardian.co.uk/austria/article/0,,1865500,00.html.
