by Tom Bunzel‚ The Pulse: We are an expression of an immense mystery which we cannot objectify – because we are the subject and not any object. Years ago‚ I had what I thought was an epiphany after watching a video on TED.  In the video futurist Juan Enriquez compares the sequence of letters comprising the […]

by Mike Whitney‚ Global Research: Having seized upon the October 7 attacks as a pretext‚ Israel has moved to implement a long-term plan to render Gaza uninhabitable and either kill or expel its population. The assault on Rafah will mark a new stage in this vast crime. (Andre Damon‚ World Socialist Web Site) On Friday‚ Prime […]

from GoldSilver (w/ Mike Maloney): TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

True crime is a genre of story that has taken the world by storm‚ from video documentaries and television shows to extensive news coverage and podcast series. People cannot get enough of hearing the twisted things that can emerge from the darkest corners of humanity. Although some debate the ethics of true crime storytelling‚ its popularity is undeniable. The suspense of being an omniscient observer after the fact adds tension to these stories and makes the resolution all the more rewarding. While everyone loves a good mystery‚ the most popular stories are those where the criminal faces the consequences of their actions‚ especially when a victim gets to walk away from a life-threatening situation. Few of these stories are as harrowing and inspiring as that of Jaycee Dugard. Abducted at the age of 11‚ Dugard endured 18 years of captivity before regaining her freedom.  Jaycee as a child‚ shortly before her kidnapping The Abduction On June 10‚ 1991‚ Jaycee Lee Dugard was walking to her school bus stop in South Lake Tahoe‚ California. It was then that Philip Garrido and his wife‚ Nancy‚ abducted her in broad daylight from her home. Her stepfather‚ who was in the garage at the time‚ noticed the girl getting grabbed too late. He attempted to chase the car down on his bicycle as the abductors ran away. When the car quickly outdrove him‚ he called the police and an FBI search ensued. Forces on the ground and in the air attempted to locate the missing girl‚ but had no luck. Little did the search forces know that she was 170 miles away in the town of Antioch‚ California‚ being raised by those who captured her.  Philip Garrido had a history of sexual assault that he established throughout the 1970s‚ kidnapping and raping several women. He was also being charged with kidnapping and sexual assault. He served over a decade in prison. This is where he met his wife Nancy Bocanegra as she visited her uncle in prison. They were married in the prison in 1981‚ and Garrido was released on parole in 1988. It would take only three years for him to return to his sick and twisted ways when he and Nancy captured Dugard outside her home.  Jaycee and Garrido. El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Hidden in Plain Sight Jaycee Dugard’s captivity was a twisted tale of being hidden in plain sight. The Garridos kept Jaycee in a makeshift compound in their backyard from the moment they returned to Antioch. Hidden from the outside world by this shed‚ Jaycee lived a life of unimaginable confinement. For over half a year‚ the only human interaction Dugard was exposed to was Philip‚ who would sexually assault her daily. As a methamphetamine addict‚ Garrido would go on drug-induced rants about how he was chosen by God and that Dugard was chosen by God to assist him with his struggles with sex‚ since society refused to help him. His treatment of Dugard would oscillate wildly between a seemingly genuine care for her wellbeing and a cruel anger that threatened her existence.  Eventually‚ Garrido introduced Dugard to Nancy. She first approached Dugard as a kind and apologetic mother figure. Later in life though‚ Dugard would describe Nancy as just as manipulative and cruel as Garrido. This was reinforced by the fact that Nancy continued to hold Dugard captive even after Garrido was returned to prison when he failed a drug test.  Mugshot of Nancy Garrido Life in Captivity During her 18 years of captivity‚ Jaycee was subject to immense physical and psychological trauma induced by Garrido. She was completely isolated for the majority of the time. She would only have encounters with a handful of people besides the Garridos before her rescue in 2009. She was also impregnated twice by Garrido and forced to give birth at 14 and 17. The girls believed that Dugard was their sister and that Nancy and Philip were their parents until their eventual rescue. There were also half a dozen moments where police‚ neighbors‚ or even strangers reported odd behavior from the Garrido’s residence. Each time resulted in a surface-level investigation where all suspicion was brushed off. Whether Dugard was aware of these close calls or not‚ they add to the depth of her tragedy.  Discovery and Freedom The turning point in Dugard’s ordeal came in 2009. Garrido‚ accompanied by his two “daughters”‚ attempted to distribute religious literature at the University of California‚ Berkeley. His erratic behavior attracted the attention of campus police‚ who looked into Garrido’s background and found that he was violating his parole. The ensuing investigation brought Dugard into the station. Now 29 years old‚ she first attempted to obfuscate her identity while confirming the children were her own. It was not until Garrido admitted to kidnapping and raping Dugard that she admitted her own identity. The news swept the nation‚ stunning everyone who had followed the story for nearly two decades. Dugard was able to return to her life with her two daughters‚ and those who kidnapped her finally received their punishment. Philip Garrido was convicted and sentenced to 431 years in prison with no chance of parole. His wife‚ Nancy Garrido‚ received a sentence of 36 years to life.  Rebuilding a Life Although reuniting with her family and returning to a normal life was amazing‚ it introduced new challenges to Dugard’s life. The process of recovering from the trauma required a lot of mental‚ physical‚ and emotional effort and the support of her loved ones. Jaycee exhibited remarkable strength during this period. She used her experience to raise awareness about abduction and the trauma survivors face. She co-authored a memoir‚ “A Stolen Life‚” where she shared her journey of captivity‚ survival‚ and recovery. In doing so‚ she became an advocate for survivors of trauma and a voice against the horrors of abduction. References ABC News. “Jaycee Dugard‚ Her Daughters Today‚ and if They Ever Want to See Their Father.” ABC News‚ July 8‚ 2016. https://abcnews.go.com/US/jaycee-dugard-daughters-today-father/story?id=40279504.  “Jaycee Dugard.” Crime Museum‚ 2022. https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/kidnappings/jaycee-dugard/. The post Jaycee Dugard: A Story of Resilience and Survival first appeared on History Defined.

The Ides of March is often related to the death of Julius Caesar. According to historians‚ Caesar was stabbed to death during the Ides of March in 44 Before the Common Era (BCE). Caesar had become a dictator‚ and Roman politicians were no longer happy with him. Around sixty conspirators took part in the plan for his assassination.  But it was William Shakespeare who made the Ides of March even more dramatic than it was. In his play‚ The Tragedy of Julius Caesar‚ a soothsayer warned the mighty general: “Beware the Ides of March.” Caesar didn’t heed the warning and died that same day.  Since the play became popular‚ people have been using the phrase as a warning every March 15. However‚ the date itself isn’t cursed or a day of bad luck.  What Is the Ides of March? “Ides” is a date in the Roman calendar. The Romans didn’t mark months from the first to the last day. Instead‚ they counted dates from three fixed points: Kalends – the first day of each month Nones – the 5th (during hollow months) or the 7th (during full months) day Ides – the 13th (during hollow months) or 15th (during full months) day Originally‚ the Ides were based on the full moon. The Ides of March had been the first full moon of the new year. However‚ the Roman calendar evolved a lot over time.  Incidentally‚ Julius Caesar instituted changes that continue to be seen in today’s calendars. The Julian calendar stopped the practice of basing the dates on the new moon. Instead‚ a leap year every four years was introduced to mend the gap.  Caesar’s iteration of the calendar was instituted in 46 BCE. It was only changed in 1582 when corrections were made‚ and it became known as the Gregorian calendar.  Caesar’s leap year is still observed every four years.  The Importance of Ides of March The conflation of bad luck and the phrase “beware the Ides of March” is quite interesting because the Ides were considered sacred in ancient times. The Ides of each month are said to be important to Jupiter in mythology. He had his high priestess Flamen Dialis lead a procession known as the “Ides sheep” each month.  The Ides of March is also a feast that celebrates Anna Perenna‚ a Roman deity of the circle or ring. In ancient times‚ the Anna Perenna celebration was also the culmination of New Year festivities. People would drink and have picnics throughout the day.  Another noted celebration on the Ides of March is the Mamuralia‚ a Roman religious festival. The celebration honors Mamurius Veturius‚ who made the ritual shields hanging in the temple of Mars. But this tradition would not be accepted today. It involves a scapegoating ritual where an old man dressed in animal skins is beaten and driven out of the city.  There is a deeper meaning to this inhuman tradition. The original Roman calendar began in March‚ which means it was the first month of the year. The man beaten with sticks and expelled from the city represents the hardships and negative energy being left behind for a fresh start in the new year.  Even more celebrations were initiated during the Ides of March during the Roman Empire. There was a holy week of festivals for Cybele‚ the Anatolian goddess mother‚ and her consort Attis. The end of the celebration‚ which falls on March 22nd‚ commemorates the death of Attis.  Shakespeare’s Dramatization of True Events Technically‚ Shakespeare popularized the saying‚ “Beware the Ides of March‚” through his play‚ The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. It was first staged in 1599 and was based on the real-life assassination of Caesar at the hands of Brutus and Cassius.  Fresh off a triumphant war‚ Caesar returned to Rome‚ where he arranged for a victory parade. At the height of his celebration‚ a fortune teller tells Caesar: “Beware the Ides of March.” The fortune teller was identified as Spurinna‚ a known haruspex in Rome.  Portrait of William Shakespeare by John Taylor‚ 1610 Caesar’s wife‚ Calpurnia‚ also had a premonition about Caesar’s death and told him about it. Just as he did with the soothsayer‚ Caesar ignored his wife’s warning.  According to historians‚ Caesar was on his way up the Senate steps when he saw the seer again. He proudly stated: “Well‚ the Ides of March are come.” After all‚ nothing happened to him up to that moment. The soothsayer replied: “Aye‚ they are come‚ but they are not gone.” Just a short time later‚ Caesar was assassinated.  Since then‚ the Ides of March has had a negative connotation. The religious celebrations of ancient times have been replaced with a warning about the bad luck and betrayal brought upon by the 15th of March.  The Ides of March in Pop Culture Where have you heard of the Ides of March before?  Movies The Ides of March is a 2011 political drama starring George Clooney and Ryan Gosling. Clooney also co-wrote and directed the film. The film doesn’t directly reference Caesar‚ but you can get the connection if you dissect the storyline.  Television Ides of March is a popular title for many TV episodes that feature betrayals of any kind. There was an Ides of March episode on Party of Five (1994-2000)‚ Xena: The Warrior Princes (1995-2001)‚ and Roman Empire (2016-2019).  Books Thornton Wilder published The Ides of March in 1948 as a fictional interpretation of the events leading to the assassination of Caesar.  Music There is also a band called Ides of March. They started as a four-piece American jazz band in 1964 and officially called themselves the Ides of March in 1966. They have expanded to an eight-piece band and continue to tour the U.S. today.  Myles Kennedy‚ an American singer and guitarist‚ released The Ides of March album in 2021. It had a song of the same title‚ which Kennedy explained is about warnings and having a bleak outlook to remind people who they are.  Caesar with his final wife‚ Calpurnia‚ warning him not to go before he was killed. Is There a Need to Fear the Ides of March? There is nothing to be afraid of when the Ides of March arrive. It’s a regular day‚ with the average number of people dying and being born. It is the birthdate of the beloved Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and actress Eva Longoria. In 2019‚ activist Greta Thunberg led over 1.5 million people in global climate change protests on this date. The post Beware of the Ides of March: What Happens on March 15? first appeared on History Defined.

Bettie Page is not a name that everyone knows today‚ but during the 1950s she was one of the most recognizable pinups in the world. She was a trailblazing model and one of the most photographed women of her era. However‚ beyond the lens and the allure of her pinup images‚ Bettie Page’s life was a tapestry of complexities. Her life was marked by highs of success and lows of personal challenges. This article delves into the captivating life of Bettie Page‚ exploring her early years‚ her meteoric rise to fame‚ and the enigmatic aspects that have made her a timeless symbol of beauty and liberation. Bettie Page photoshoot Early Life She was born Betty Mae Page on April 22‚ 1923‚ in Nashville‚ Tennessee. She was the second child of six children. Her early years were plagued with financial struggles and family instability. When she was 10‚ her parents divorced and she and two of her sisters were sent to an orphanage for a year.  At some point during her teenage years‚ her father returned and rented a basement room in her mother’s house. During this time Bettie claims that he sexually molested her. Despite these challenges‚ Bettie’s teenage years saw her excelling academically. She even became Homecoming Queen at Hume-Fogg High School and earned a scholarship to George Peabody College.  Bettie honed various skills. She found solace in community centers‚ where she developed a passion for cooking‚ sewing‚ and academic pursuits. Her resilience and determination manifested in her achievements as a student‚ with notable roles in the Dramatics Club‚ the Student Council‚ and contributions to the school newspaper and yearbook. This earned her the title of “Most Likely to Succeed.” After graduating in 1943‚ she married her high school sweetheart Billy Neal‚ and moved to San Francisco. She attempted to get into acting in Los Angeles but she failed her first screen test. A few years later she filed for divorce from Neal and moved to New York. Discovery Page soon learned that life in New York City wasn’t any easier than in San Francisco. To support herself initially‚ she got a job as a secretary to a real estate agent. During her first few years in the Big Apple she enrolled in acting classes and auditioned for plays. However‚ no opportunities ever materialized. One day in 1950‚ Page was enjoying herself on the shores of Coney Island when she caught the eye of Jerry Tibbs. Tibbs was a police officer by day and an amateur photographer by night. Tibbs approached Bettie and told her that she had the potential to be a famous pinup girl. He proposed a photoshoot and even would help to put together her first portfolio. Intrigued by the opportunity‚ Page agreed‚ marking her entry into the world of modeling.  Erotic Film In the 1940s‚ nude and erotic photos were illegal to distribute which meant that the demand for them was high. In response to these legal constraints‚ so-called “camera clubs” emerged as a workaround. These clubs claimed to exist for the promotion of artistic photography but‚ in reality‚ they were fronts for the creation and distribution of explicit or pornographic images.  As a camera club model‚ Page found her calling. Her fearlessness in front of the camera quickly propelled her to stardom within the world of erotic photography. Soon‚ Page’s name and image became synonymous with the genre making her an iconic figure in the world of pinups and erotic photography.  As Page’s image circulated the underground erotic culture of New York City‚ she caught the attention of Irving Klaw and his sister Paula. The Klaws operated a mail-order business specializing in custom-made fetish and bondage erotica. The Klaws produced short silent films featuring Page in playful‚ yet provocative‚ situations‚ appealing to audiences with a taste for the risqué.  Bettie Page with a whip during a photoshoot with Klaw The Kefauver Committee Estes Kefauver was a prominent U.S. Senator from Tennessee. During the early 1950s‚ he was thrust into the spotlight and national prominence when he chaired the Kefauver Committee. Officially known as the Senate Special Committee to Investigate Crime in Interstate Commerce‚ this committee conducted televised hearings and investigations into organized crime. The hearings brought the horrors of the criminal underworld into everyone’s living room. As a result‚ there was an increased clampdown on censorship in the media and entertainment industry. Content that was deemed too risqué or provocative was particularly targeted. The cultural and political climate of the 1950s began to shift to a more conservative attitude. Anyone who stood in the way had their careers destroyed.  Bettie Page and her colleagues were not spared from the Kefauver Committee. They deemed her and photographers like Irving Klaw as “a bad influence and degrading.” In response‚ Kefauver initiated a sub-committee on juvenile delinquency to probe the alleged negative impact of these images. The investigation took a grim turn when Clarence Grimm‚ claiming that his son’s suicide was influenced by Bettie Page‚ came forward. Kefauver subpoenaed Irving Klaw on May 19‚ 1955. The proceedings took an emotional toll on Bettie‚ who was spared testifying but faced the weight of a teenager’s tragic suicide attributed to her images. Move to Florida and Mental Decline The pressure and anxiety brought on by the Kefauver Committee became too much for Bettie Page to bear. She moved to Florida to live a more relaxed and isolated life away from the camera. Not long after she arrived in Florida she had a transformative experience at a Baptist church on New Year’s Eve in 1957. It led to her spiritual rebirth. This newfound faith prompted Page to leave behind her modeling career‚ expressing‚ “When I gave my life to the Lord‚ I began to think he disapproved of all those nude pictures of me.” Bettie Page posing In 1958‚ she entered a brief marriage with Armond Walterson‚ but the union ended swiftly in divorce by 1963. Undeterred‚ Page married for a third time in 1967‚ this time to Harry Lear. Unfortunately‚ this chapter marked the beginning of Bettie Page’s mental health decline. The signs of mental health deterioration began to manifest with uncontrollable bursts of anger. One notable incident occurred in January 1972 at a ministry retreat‚ where Bettie Page ran through the retreat brandishing a .22-caliber pistol.  In the subsequent years‚ she withdrew from the public eye‚ and her mental health struggles became a private battle. In the last years of her life she retreated from the spotlight and lived a more secluded life. She grappled with mental health challenges until her passing on December 11‚ 2008. Legacy Bettie Page’s influence extends far beyond the realm of her original erotic photographs‚ inspiring a whole new generation of creatives. In his 2007 film “Death Proof”‚ director Quentin Tarantino paid homage to Bettie Page through the character of Jungle Julia. Her legacy lives on not only in the archives of her vintage pinups but also in the creative expressions of those who continue to be inspired by the mark she left on the world of art and popular culture. References Inside The Secret Life Of Notorious Pinup Girl-Turned-Recluse Bettie Page https://allthatsinteresting.com/bettie-page Bettie Page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bettie_Page# ABOUT BETTIE PAGE: BIOGRAPHY https://www.bettiepage.com/about/The post Bettie Page: The Troubled Life of the Iconic Pinup Queen first appeared on History Defined.

How far would you go for your job? Would you do something dangerous?  What if your job asked you to do something that could mean certain death‚ but would save millions? This is what was asked of three unsung heroes of the world‚ the Chernobyl divers.  In 1986‚ one of the most devastating nuclear disasters in world history occurred: the meltdown of Chernobyl’s Reactor 4.  Hundreds of thousands of firefighters and liquidators were there to clean up the unimaginable mess left behind by the meltdown of Reactor 4. But separate from these heroes‚ three others get less recognition.  Only three divers performed what might have been the most important part of the entire Chernobyl cleanup. Who were these divers‚ and why was their job so important?  One of the divers readying himself in his gear. Who Were the Chernobyl Divers?  Before the Chernobyl divers were given their legendary‚ dangerous task‚ they were just men who worked at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.  Here is a miniature bio on each of these three men: Alexei Ananenko  Position: Mechanical engineer  Bio: Born in 1962‚ Alexei had worked at Chernobyl for some time when the disaster struck. His knowledge of the plant made him a valuable member of the three-man diving team.  Valeri Bezpalov  Position: Senior Engineer  Bio: Bezpalov‚ born in 1955‚ had experience on his side when it came time to undertake the all-important diving mission. He was incredibly familiar with the plant’s systems and structures–something that was of the utmost importance when they were in the water. Boris Barnov Position: Shift Supervisor  Bio: One of the most important leaders amid the Chernobyl disaster was Boris Baranov‚ the shift supervisor on duty when the meltdown occurred. He didn’t shy away from duty and was hands-on during the cleanup process and dive.  Why Were the Chernobyl Divers Needed?  In the early hours of April 26‚ 1986‚ Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant experienced a critical meltdown. Explosions and fire followed‚ which had to be swiftly dealt with. Dozens of people were killed that week. Thousands of others would perish in the coming years. The world had never seen anything like the Chernobyl Disaster before‚ but it could have been a lot worse.  When the first explosions occurred‚ firefighters rushed to put the blazes out‚ pumping water into the now-exposed reactor‚ and flooding the basement. The water succeeded in putting out the fires‚ and in the rush to control the situation‚ no one considered the consequences of the flooded basement.  But as the days passed‚ experts came to a horrifying conclusion. The reactor was still melting down‚ burning through the concrete floor‚ and was well on its way to making contact with the bubbler pools beneath the reactor.  These pools were massive‚ said to contain nearly 20 million liters of water that would be used as coolant for the reactor. But the reactor was still blazing hot. If it made contact with this enormous amount of water‚ the steam explosion that occurred would be catastrophic on an almost unimaginable scale.  The water was already contaminated with radiation. The explosion would be strong enough to destroy the entire rest of the Chernobyl plant‚ as well as the three remaining intact reactors. The contaminated water combined with the nuclear fallout from such an explosion was estimated to be severe enough to destroy half of Europe. It would cause it to be uninhabitable for 500‚000 years or more.  The good news: there were valves that‚ when pulled‚ would drain these bubbler pools.  The bad news: The valves were located in the basement‚ and as we mentioned before‚ said basement was flooded with even more irradiated water.  The basement was dark‚ and while firefighters were working to pump the water out to make the valves easier to access‚ they couldn’t accomplish their task in enough time. This is where our heroes come in.  Alexei‚ Boris‚ and Valeri volunteered to be the men who would enter the basement and find the valves in the dark. The basement wasn’t a small space‚ and time was running out. So‚ dressed in only wetsuits and carrying flashlights‚ they set out to save the world.  The divers as depicted in the HBO series‚ Chernobyl The water was around their knees‚ but the dark was more troublesome. The trio knew that their mission was likely a fatal one–they were wading in radioactive water after all–but it had to be done.  Minutes passed‚ and hope was slipping away when one of the men spotted a pipe that they were able to follow. At the end of the pipe‚ they found exactly what they had been searching for– the drainage valves.  The three men twisted the valves‚ and the pools beneath the reactor began to drain. They had done it–they had prevented an explosion that could have turned the Chernobyl Disaster into a cataclysmic event.  Did the Chernobyl Divers Survive? All three divers had accepted before they entered the basement‚ that their lives could be over. It was expected they would die from the same sickness that killed other exposed Chernobyl workers–ARS‚ or Acute Radiation Syndrome.  Amazingly‚ all three divers survived long term. Not only that–they were awarded the Order For Courage by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in 2018. Unfortunately‚ Boris Baranov passed away in 2005 from a heart condition and was awarded the honor posthumously.  How Did the Chernobyl Divers Survive?  Several factors prevented the divers from getting ARS‚ but one of the most surprising was the water itself. Water is an amazing absorber of radiation‚ making it much less dangerous than previously thought. Their suits also provided them some protection. Protective gear was given to all liquidators‚ firefighters‚ and divers.  Lastly‚ the three men worked as quickly as they could to minimize their exposure to the radiation. The mission was still extraordinarily dangerous‚ but a couple of positive variables and the three men’s expertise meant that they survived one of the most treacherous jobs in the entire Chernobyl disaster.  References  “Five Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Chernobyl”-Douglas E. Hardtmayer https://www.ans.org/news/article-2044/five-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-chernobyl/ “Chernobyl: A Short History of the Human Impact on Ukraine and its Neighbors”- Lisa Horner https://geohistory.today/chernobyl-short-history-human-impact/The post Most Dangerous Job in the World? The Chernobyl Divers first appeared on History Defined.

Josef Fritzl’s story is one of a particularly sick criminal. Other sociopaths have become infamous for their violence or sexual deviance‚ but Fritzl compounded his sociopathy with incest. The Austrian man shocked the world with his heinous crimes. The story of his atrocities made global headlines. Fritzl’s story is a horrifying blend of deception‚ captivity‚ and unspeakable abuse that unfolded behind the seemingly ordinary façade of a suburban home. But it is also a tale of the strength and fortitude of his daughter Elisabeth who persisted in the face of her father’s abuse. Josef Fritzl. Associated Press Early Life and Background Josef Fritzl was born on April 9‚ 1935‚ in Amstetten‚ Austria. Growing up in the aftermath of World War II‚ Fritzl’s childhood was marked by a fractured Europe rebuilding itself from the ruins of conflict. A strained relationship with his mother colored his experience with women for his whole life‚ resulting in his desire for control. In the 1950s‚ Josef Fritzl married Rosemarie‚ and together they established what appeared to be a conventional‚ middle-class family. However‚ it would turn out to be anything but. The couple had several children‚ including Elisabeth‚ who would unfortunately become a victim of her father’s perverse sexual desires throughout her life.   The Construction of the Dungeon In the late 1970s‚ Fritzl began the construction of a hidden dungeon beneath the family home in Amstetten. He was easily able to build it with proper permits and no suspicion because at the height of the Cold War personal bunkers were common‚ especially in a country like Austria. By the time Elisabeth was rescued‚ the bunker extended across the underside of the entire yard‚ including under a pool built to obfuscate the true nature of Fritzl’s massive construction project. The entrance was through a storm cellar. It included eight doors to get through before reaching the true purpose of the project. The dungeon‚ which consisted of multiple small rooms‚ was equipped with a bed‚ a bathroom‚ and rudimentary living facilities. It was a space designed for one purpose only: to imprison and control. The victim to be imprisoned was Elisabeth‚ who was 18 at the time. She would be captured by her father while helping install the final door. Once the door was in place‚ Fritzl knocked Elisabeth out with a rag covered in ether and locked her in the cellar. Elisabeth Fritzl’s Captivity Elisabeth would remain Josef’s victim of sexual abuse for the next 24 years. When Elisabeth was young she would constantly run away‚ even making it as far as Vienna once. But she would always be returned home. These escapes coincided with the beginning of Josef’s sexual abuse of his daughter which continued for years. Then‚ shortly after her eighteenth birthday‚ Elisabeth disappeared. Josef told neighbors and family that she had run off to join a sect‚ a lie that people easily believed due to her numerous prior runaway attempts. But what actually happened was far more sinister. Elisabeth Fritzl at 16. Still from a YouTube video Life in Captivity and the Birth of Children During her captivity‚ Elisabeth endured the horror of repeated sexual assault on a daily basis. This endless torture was made worse by the fact that over her 24-year confinement‚ she was forced to give birth to seven children. Six of the children survived. Elisabeth was forced to deliver the children herself with limited knowledge and supplies. Fritzl’s cruelty extended to some of the children born in captivity as well. Three were forced to remain with Elisabeth in the dungeon‚ while another three were supposedly “dropped off” on Josef’s front door by Elisabeth for him to raise. The seventh child died within a few days of being born‚ and Josef incinerated the child’s body. He would later claim that he did not know why he did not do more to help. He just assumed the child was going to live.  Discovery and Rescue The shocking saga came to an end in 2008 when Kerstin‚ one of Elisabeth’s daughters in captivity with her‚ fell gravely ill. Josef allowed her to be taken to a hospital‚ but her unnaturally pale skin and sunken demeanor prompted medical staff to question her family background. As a result‚ Josef brought Elisabeth to the hospital to discuss Kerstin’s health with the doctors. She claimed that she had managed to escape the cult she joined. Doctors managed to get Elisabeth into a room without Josef where the truth came out. The subsequent investigation led to the revelation of the dungeon‚ Elisabeth’s captivity‚ and the unspeakable crimes committed by Josef Fritzl. He was promptly arrested‚ and the victims were finally freed from the hellish captivity they had endured Italian reporter in front of family Fritzl’s home‚ 2008 Legal Proceedings and Imprisonment Josef Fritzl faced trial in 2009. He was charged with multiple counts of rape‚ incest‚ and wrongful imprisonment. During the trial‚ the full extent of his crimes was laid bare. He attempted to defend himself by claiming he was protecting Elisabeth due to her multiple attempts to run away as a child. But as evidence mounted against him of the atrocities he committed‚ it became clear this was an act of control‚ not compassion. In March 2009‚ Fritzl pleaded guilty to all charges‚ and he was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. The case‚ with its disturbing details and the prolonged nature of the captivity‚ sent shockwaves through the international community and led to a reevaluation of child protection laws in Austria. For Elisabeth and her children‚ the transition to a normal life was a difficult one. The children born in captivity‚ having known only the confines of the dungeon‚ had to acclimate to a world they had never experienced. References Gregory‚ Andy. “Josef Fritzl says he is ‘sure’ his family will forgive him in rare statement.” Independent‚ May 11‚ 2023. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/crime/josef-fritzl-family-interview-latest-b2336949.html.  Connolly‚ Kate. “Josef Fritzl trial: ‘She spent the first five years entirely alone. He hardly ever spoke to her’.” The Guardian‚ March 19‚ 2009. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/19/josef-fritzl-austria. The post Josef Fritzl: The Horrifying Tale of the 24-Year-Long Captivity first appeared on History Defined.