A regional court ruling in January 2024 deemed Fritzl no longer dangerous, which allows for his potential transfer from a high-security prison to a regular jail. Wagner said that if the court rejects the application, they’ll appeal and she still believes he’ll be released by next year based on his condition.
Fritzl reportedly claims to regret his actions daily, yet he has the delusional belief that people will be cheering and wanting to shake his hand when he’s released. His lawyer said this is just a fantasy as he doesn’t understand how the world really views him. He also acknowledges and respects his family’s decision to cut all ties with him.
In a disturbing revelation, Wagner said that when she visited Fritzl in prison, he kept talking about wanting a house with a cellar when he gets out. He claimed it’s to store numerous files and folders he’s collected over the years.
The question remains: should someone like Josef Fritzl, who committed such heinous crimes and still has these delusions, ever be allowed back into society? Is it possible to rehabilitate him, or should he remain in prison for life?