Wolfgang Přiklopil
| Wolfgang Přiklopil | |
|---|---|
Passport photograph of Přiklopil
|
|
| Born | 14 May 1962 Vienna, Austria |
| Died | 23 August 2006 (aged 44) Vienna, Austria |
| Cause of death | Suicide by jumping in front of train |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Occupation | Telecommunications technician |
| Children | an anonymous daughter (alleged) |
| Parent(s) | Karl and Waltraud Přiklopil |
Wolfgang Přiklopil (14 May 1962 – 23 August 2006) was an Austrian communications technician. In 1998, he kidnapped 10-year-old Natascha Kampusch and held her in captivity for eight years, committing suicide after she escaped.
Early life[edit]
Přiklopil was born to Karl and Waltraud Přiklopil, in Vienna, an only child. Karl was a cognac salesman and Waltraud a shoe saleswoman.[1] Přiklopil worked for a time at Siemens as a communications technician.
Kidnapping[edit]
Přiklopil kidnapped Kampusch on the morning of 2 March 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 Přiklopil's grandfather, Oskar Přiklopil, 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. Přiklopil took over the house in 1984 following his grandmother's death.
Kampusch escaped on 23 August 2006. After a police chase, from which he escaped, Přiklopil committed suicide by stepping in front of a moving train near the Vienna Northern Station.[2]
Přiklopil appeared to have relied exclusively on a Commodore 64 as his computer, which is a complicating factor in the recovery of evidence because of the obsolete technology.[3]
He was buried under the name "Karl Wendelberger" on 8 September 2006 in the Piplitz family grave plot[citation needed] in the town of Laxenburg, south of Vienna.
Personal life[edit]
Wolfgang Přiklopil allegedly had a daughter.[4]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Patrick Foster. "The silence of the lamb". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 10 December 2006.
- ^ Duke Katie (27 August 2006). "'Respect my privacy' says kidnap victim". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 27 August 2006.
- ^ Mark Oliver (5 September 2006). "Kidnapper's retro computer offers scant clues". The Guardian (London).
- ^ Allan Hall (3 April 2013). "Natascha Kampusch's father names a second kidnapper and claims police covered up errors in the search for his daughter in explosive new book". Daily Mail (London).
External links[edit]
 |
Wikinews has related news: Austrian teenager mourns captor's suicide |
- Photo: Kidnapper's house and garden
- Important informations by NEWS (German)
- Last pictures showing Wolfgang Přiklopil one hour before he dies on YouTube
