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

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

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][3]

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.[4]

He was buried under the name "Karl Wendelberger" on 8 September 2006 in the Piplitz family grave plot in the town of Laxenburg, south of Vienna.

Personal life

Wolfgang Přiklopil allegedly had a daughter.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Foster, Patrick. "The silence of the lamb". Guardian (London). Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  2. ↑ Katie, Duke (2006-08-27). "'Respect my privacy' says kidnap victim". Guardian Unlimited (London). Retrieved 2006-08-27.
  3. ↑ Strohecker, Karin (24 August 2006). "Austrian girl's suspected kidnapper kills himself". Washington Post. Retrieved 2006-08-25.
  4. ↑ Oliver, Mark (September 5, 2006). "Kidnapper's retro computer offers scant clues". London: Guardian Unlimited.
  5. ↑ Hall, Allan (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". London: Daily Mail.

External links

Wikinews has related news: Austrian teenager mourns captor's suicide