Trials

Dungeon Dad Pleads Guilty

Daughter's testimony leads Fritzl to confess.

Time for a new obsession: In a shocking reversal, Austrian dungeon dad Josef Fritzl pleaded guilty to all charges today, The Times of London reports. The 73-year-old electrical engineer was being charged with rape, incest, slavery and murder for locking his daughter in a basement for 24 years, raping her about 3,000 times and fathering 7 children with her, one of whom died a newborn for lack of health care. Fritzl had already pled guilty to incest and partially guilty to the rape charge, but had contested the other charges, which hold longer prison sentences. When the judge asked Fritzl why he had changed his plea, Fritzl replied, "My daughter's video taped testimony," and added that he was "sorry" and referred to his behavior as "sick" and "cruel.”